OTTAWA, March 5 (Alliance News): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, calling it “a very dumb thing to do,” as Ottawa announced immediate countermeasures.
In response to the US trade action, Trudeau unveiled 25% tariffs on C$30 billion worth of American imports, with a potential expansion to C$125 billion in three weeks if the dispute persists.
He asserted that Canada would challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization and under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“Canadians are reasonable and polite, but we will not back down when our economy and livelihoods are at stake,” Trudeau declared.
Trump justified the tariffs by accusing Canada of failing to curb fentanyl shipments into the US, a claim Trudeau dismissed as “completely bogus and unjustified.”
The escalating trade war threatens to push Canada into recession, with economists warning of severe economic consequences unless the tariffs are swiftly removed. Trudeau emphasized that American consumers and businesses would also suffer, citing a Wall Street Journal editorial that labeled the move as “the dumbest trade war in history.”
As a response, Canada’s most populous provinces, Quebec and Ontario, have begun removing US alcohol from liquor store shelves. Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned of additional retaliatory measures, including a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Trudeau acknowledged growing public frustration, noting that Canadian sports fans have started booing US teams. “We’re not booing Americans, we’re booing a policy designed to harm us,” he said, vowing to fight the tariffs and ensure Canada prevails
