Trudeau plays tit for tat on tariffs with Trump

Ottawa — Canada will retaliate against President Donald Trump’s new tariffs with 25% levies on a raft of US imports, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday, warning Americans that Trump’s actions would have real consequences for them.

As relations between the long-time allies who share the world’s longest land border reach a new low, Trudeau told a news conference he was slapping tariffs on C$155-billion ($107-billion) of US goods. Those on C$30-billion will take effect on Tuesday, the same day as Trump’s tariffs, and duties on the remaining C$125-billion in 21 days, he said.

Trudeau’s announcement came just hours after Trump ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China, risking a trade war that economists say could slow global growth and reignite inflation.

Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on all energy imports from Canada.

The Canadian leader said tariffs would include American beer, wine and bourbon, as well as fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice from Trump’s home state of Florida. Canada would also target goods including clothing, sports equipment and household appliances.

Trudeau said the coming weeks would be difficult for Canadians but that Americans would also suffer from Trump’s actions.

“Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities,” Trudeau said, addressing US citizens during a press conference in Ottawa.

“They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery store and gas at the pump.”

Canada is considering non-tariff measures, potentially relating to critical minerals, energy procurement and other partnerships, Trudeau said.

The 9,000km US-Canada border handles over $2.5-billion in trade a day, especially in energy and manufacturing, according to Canadian government data from 2023.

In 2023, Canada exported close to C$550 -billion worth of goods and services to the US, or more than three-fourths of its total exports. Energy accounted for 30% and manufacturing contributed about 15% to exports south of the border.

Exports to the US account for roughly 17.8% of Canadian GDP and more than 2.4-million jobs in Canada.

The tariffs hit Canada as it deals with a political crisis and a leadership race within Trudeau’s Liberal Party.

Facing low approval ratings, Trudeau has said he will resign after nine years in office once a new party leader is chosen. The opposition Conservatives could win the next election by a thumping majority, according to recent opinion polls.

Flanked by his foreign affairs and finance ministers a sombre Trudeau recalled the years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

“From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, from the fields of Flanders to the streets of Kandahar, we have fought and died alongside you during your darkest hours,” he said. “We’ve built the most successful economic, military and security partnership the world has ever seen.”

Trudeau encouraged Canadians to buy Canadian products and vacation at home rather than in the US.

“We didn’t ask for this but we will not back down,” he said.

Reuters