Canada vows swift retaliation if Trump enacts new tariffs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that if the United States imposes tariffs on Canada on Tuesday, Ottawa will react swiftly and firmly. His remarks came in response to a question about how Canada would respond to President Donald Trump's announcement on the planned tariffs.
Trudeau emphasized that every effort would be made to prevent the tariffs. However, he reiterated that if the United States imposes these unjustified measures on Canada on Tuesday, the government will respond immediately and with exceptional force, as expected by Canadians. He made this statement during a press conference in Montreal.
Canada prepares for Trump's decision
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the suspended tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will come into effect on Tuesday, 4th March and he will impose an additional 10% tariff on products from China. He added that this is related to the ongoing influx of fentanyl across the borders, although statistics indicate a significant decrease in the smuggling of this drug.
Trudeau stressed that the federal government, provincial governments, and all government partners have so far focused on ensuring that "when Tuesday and the following weeks come, there are no tariffs imposed on Canada." He also pointed out that Donald Trump's tariffs, currently under discussion, are linked to the fentanyl crisis experienced by the United States, which is also present in Canada.
Trudeau reiterated that for months he has emphasized that less than 1% of the fentanyl entering the United States originates from Canada. He added that Canada is committed to eliminating even that tiny fraction. To support this effort, the federal government has allocated £770 million to strengthen border security with the U.S., including investments in new equipment such as helicopters and drones.
When Canada was preparing to introduce retaliatory tariffs on the USA at the beginning of February, the government announced that 25% tariffs on imports from the USA would cover goods valued at 90 billion pounds. However, at that time, the White House postponed the imposition of tariffs by a month.
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