Trudeau blasts U.S. trade war and insists Canada is fighting back

Article content

OTTAWA — Canada’s not backing down.

That was the message Tuesday from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Canadians awoke to the beginnings of a trade war with the United States.

“There is absolutely no justification or need whatsoever for these tariffs,” Trudeau said Tuesday in an address broadcast live in Canada and across the U.S.

Trudeau pulled no punches, addressing U.S. Donald Trump’s assertions that the tariffs are meant in response to Canada’s lack of action to tackle illicit fentanyl smuggling.

“Even the excuse that he’s given for these tariffs today of fentanyl is completely bogus, it’s unjustified, completely false,” Trudeau said.

“So we actually have to fall back on the one thing he has said repeatedly, that what he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy, because that’ll make it easier to annex us.”

Trudeau continued, saying that Trump’s efforts to force Canada into joining the United States are a non-starter.

“He can do damage to the Canadian economy, and it’s started this morning — but he is rapidly going to find out, and American families are going to find out, that this is going to hurt people on both sides of the border,” he said, admitting that he’d been holding out hope that the tariff threats were a negotiation tactic.

Trudeau said Canada will implement an immediate 25% tariff against $30 billion of American goods, which will reach $155 billion within 21 days.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

In a social media post after Trudeau spoke, Trump reminded Canada that any reciprocal tariffs will be met with additional tariffs matching that amount.

Challenges will also be filed through the World Trade Organization, and provisions in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA.)

“Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. tariffs are withdrawn, and not a moment sooner,” said Trudeau, who will be replaced as leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister on Sunday.

“Should these tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with the provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures.”

Speaking directly to Americans, Trudeau said Canadians want to work with the United States as a friend and ally rather than adversaries.

“Your government has chosen to do this to you,” Trudeau said.

“Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk at the thousands of workplaces that succeed because of materials from Canada, or because of consumers in Canada, or both.”