New Delhi: Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed out that he had no option but to implement countermeasures after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order slapping 25% tariffs on nearly all US imports from its neighbour.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Trudeau directly addressed Americans, highlighting the shared history and longstanding security and military alliances between the two neighbouring nations. Trudeau said, “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.”
‘Will firmly stand up for Canadians and their jobs’
He added, “Yes, we’ve had our differences in the past, but we’ve always found a way to get past them. As I’ve said before, if President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us.” The PM underlined that while his government does not wish to see the escalation of the situation, it will firmly stand up for Canadians and their jobs.
Trudeau, who had declared he would step down from his post after his party chooses a new leader, warned that the coming weeks would be challenging not just for Canadians, but also for Americans, who he claimed would suffer as a result of Trump’s actions.
The Canadian PM said that tariffs against Canada will put US jobs at risk, and could possibly shut down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities “They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery store and gas at the pump,” he told US citizens.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump slapped tariffs on major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, citing a “major threat” from illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports and a 10 per cent on Chinese goods. The White House said the tariffs would be remain effective “until the crisis is alleviated”. However, officials did not provide details on the measures the three countries are expected to take in order to secure an exemption from Trump’s tariff orders.
