OTTAWA – In a swift response to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will impose retaliatory 25% tariffs on a broad range of U.S. imports. The move comes as tensions between the two neighboring countries escalate, with Trudeau warning that the U.S. will also feel the repercussions of Trump’s actions.
Trudeau revealed that Canada would slap tariffs on U.S. goods worth C$155 billion ($107 billion), with the first wave of tariffs—on C$30 billion worth of goods—taking effect on Tuesday, in line with the imposition of Trump’s tariffs. The remaining C$125 billion in tariffs will be enacted in 21 days.
The retaliatory tariffs are set to target a variety of American goods, including beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, fruit juices (notably orange juice from Trump’s home state of Florida), clothing, sports equipment, and household appliances. Trudeau stressed that these measures would significantly affect U.S. businesses and consumers, particularly in the manufacturing and retail sectors.
“This is not just about Canada,” Trudeau said in a press conference. “Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting 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.”
Trump had previously ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, a move that economists warn could lead to a global trade slowdown and trigger inflation. The U.S. president also announced plans to impose a 10% tariff on energy imports from Canada, adding fuel to the fire.
While Trudeau acknowledged that the coming weeks would be challenging for Canadians, he also emphasized that the U.S. would experience its own set of difficulties as a result of the tariff war. Canada is also exploring non-tariff retaliatory measures related to critical minerals, energy procurement, and other areas of bilateral cooperation, according to the Prime Minister.
Read More: Trump Imposes Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, Sparking Trade War
As the trade dispute between the two nations deepens, the global economic outlook remains uncertain, with fears of a prolonged trade war that could impact industries and consumers on both sides of the border.
