Trudeau cautions of retaliatory tariffs, warns that Americans will face higher prices if US imposes tariffs on Canada
The outgoing prime minister promised a ’strong and robust’ response if the United States follows through with a 25 percent tariff on Canadian products.
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Thursday that the country would respond with retaliatory tariffs if the United States follows through with plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Trudeau promised Canada would counter with a “strong and robust response” if newly inaugurated President Donald Trump were to make good on his promised tariffs, “whether it be back on Jan. 20th, on Feb. 1st or Feb. 15th as a Valentines Day present, or on April 1st or whenever.”
“We don’t want this but we will respond if necessary,” Trudeau said of the potential retaliatory tariffs.
Canadian lawmakers are currently looking into wide-sweeping retaliatory tariffs for everything from American orange juice and toilets to some steel products.
Trudeau warned that tariffs would lead to higher prices not only for Americans who are already grappling with high inflation but for Canadians, too.
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“It would be bad for Canada, but it would also be bad for American consumers,” Trudeau said, adding that prices would rise for “just about everything.”
“We don’t think [Trump] wants that,” he said.
