Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday his country will respond immediately and forcefully if the United States goes ahead with a threat to impose tariffs
President Donald Trump has set a Saturday deadline to slap a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. He says he wants stronger action to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States.
Trudeau, speaking to an advisory council on Canada-US relations, said the country was at a critical moment.
“We’re ready with a response – a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response. It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act,” he said in televised remarks, adding that all options were on the table.
Canada sends 75% of all its goods and services exports to the United States and the economy would be badly hit by Trump’s promised tariffs.
“I won’t sugarcoat it – our nation could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks,” Trudeau said.
“I know Canadians might be anxious and worried, but I want them to know the federal government, and indeed, all orders of government, have their backs,” Trudeau said.
Meanwhile, the leading candidate for the next Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, declared that Canada will “stand up to a bully” following Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Newsnight, the 59-year-old Carney stated that Canada will “match dollar for dollar the US tariffs.”
Carney told Newsnight that “President Trump probably thinks Canada will cave in”.
“But we are going to stand up to a bully, we’re not going to back down,” he said. “We’re united and we will retaliate.”
The former Bank of England governor said the tariffs are “going to damage the US’s reputation around the world”.
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