Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, accusing him of waging a “trade war” against a close ally with the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports that took effect at midnight.
Hours after the U.S. tariffs hit Canada, Mexico, and China—prompting swift counteraction from all three—Trudeau announced Canada’s response: immediate 25% tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. goods, with another $125 billion to face levies in 21 days.
Speaking directly to Americans, Trudeau warned of dire consequences. “Your government has chosen to do this to you,” he said, predicting economic fallout as U.S. markets dipped 2% Monday and inflation risks loomed. “They have chosen to raise costs for American consumers on everyday essentials like groceries and gas, on major purchases like cars and homes.”
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He underscored the threat to U.S. jobs, arguing that thousands of workplaces rely on Canadian materials and consumers—a lifeline now imperiled.
The tariffs, Trump’s latest salvo after a February reprieve, target fentanyl flows and border security—claims Trudeau dismissed as baseless.
“Drug flow and illegal crossings from Canada are incredibly low,” he said, citing stats showing less than 1% of U.S. fentanyl enters via Canada. He warned the U.S. risks losing access to vital energy, critical minerals, and commodities, asking, “How does that strengthen your national security?”
Canada’s phased retaliation—starting with $30 billion in goods like beer, orange juice, and appliances—aims to give businesses time to adapt, with the full $155 billion hit ($107 billion USD) set for March 25 unless Trump relents.
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“This is going to be tough,” Trudeau told Canadians, refusing to “sugarcoat” the pain ahead. He took a provocative jab, alleging Trump seeks “a total collapse of the Canadian economy” to ease annexation—a nod to Trump’s quip about Canada as the 51st state.
Trudeau didn’t spare Trump’s Russia tilt, questioning his cozying up to “Vladimir Putin: a lying, murderous dictator” while torching ties with a historic ally. Trump fired back on Truth Social, vowing to match any Canadian retaliation with steeper tariffs: “Our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”
Beyond Ottawa, Canadian leaders are fuming. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut electricity exports to 1.5 million U.S. homes and hoard nickel, telling CBC, “I’ll do anything—with a smile.” Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston yanked U.S. alcohol from shelves, and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt blasted the tariffs as “mutually destructive,” according to the Toronto Sun.
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The U.S.-Canada trade relationship—$2.5 trillion annually—teeters as China slaps up to 15% tariffs on U.S. agriculture and files a WTO case, and Mexico readies its own Sunday counterstrike. With stocks shaky and Trudeau unbowed, this North American standoff tests Trump’s tariff gambit—and decades of cross-border trust.
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