Ottawa: Responding to Donald Trump’s repeated increased tariffs warnings, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said although they’re working hard to prevent such a scenario, Canada is ready with a “forceful and immediate response” if the US implements 25% tariffs on Ottawa.
“No one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods. I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We’re working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada’s ready with a forceful and immediate response,” Trudeau said in a post on X.
No one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods.
I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We’re working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada’s ready with a forceful and immediate response.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 31, 2025
Trump’s tariff threat to Canada
On Friday, the eve of the date he previously set for the tariffs to take effect, Trump reiterated his tariff threat. In recent days, three Canadian Cabinet ministers have been in Washington to engage with their American counterparts. Among them are Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, and Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller.
Canada has maintained that it has stepped up border security efforts with drones and canine units to combat illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl.
There also appears to be an increase in enforcement activity. On Tuesday, two Indo-Canadians were arrested in Saskatchewan’s Swift Current region after police discovered eight kilogrammes of fentanyl concealed under the spare tyre of their vehicle. The suspects were identified as Swati Narula (26) and Kunwardeep Singh (28), both residents of Calgary, Alberta.
“Right now, we’re showing the new American administration that Canada is a strong partner in upholding border security, while also making it clear that we won’t back down. If tariffs are imposed on Canada, we will respond,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said before attending a Canada-US Council meeting in Toronto on Friday. He added, “It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act.”
Trump, however, does not seem convinced by Canada’s claims of tightened border control. He once again highlighted concerns about the synthetic opioid fentanyl, stating that much of it “comes through Canada,” as China manufactures it and distributes it via various channels.
He also alleged that criminals were using the same route, saying, “A lot of them come through Canada, and a lot of fentanyl comes through Canada.”
Trump has not spoken with Trudeau recently. In response to Trudeau’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “I think Justin Trudeau would be wise to talk to President Trump directly before pushing outlandish comments like that to the media.”
