CV NEWS FEED // Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared Tuesday that the U.S. and Canada are now in a “trade war” and announced counter-tariffs on a number of U.S. exports after President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, said he would retaliate against the U.S. tariffs by shutting off power to American homes in several northern states.
In a speech Tuesday morning, Trudeau said the Trump administration’s tariffs amounted to declaring a “trade war” between the U.S. and Canada.
“Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same time, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” Trudeau said to reporters. “Canadians are reasonable, and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight, not when our country and the well-being of everyone in it is at stake.”
The Trump administration’s tariffs – 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada plus an additional 10% on Chinese imports – took effect Tuesday morning.
In response, Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, targeting food, beverages, clothing, and other items, according to a list from Canada’s Department of Finance. The tariffs, which also took effect Tuesday morning, apply to $30 billion worth of American products, with an additional $125 billion set to be taxed in 21 days.
“Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. tariffs are withdrawn and not a moment sooner,” Trudeau said.
In an interview Tuesday morning, Premier Doug Ford of Ontario also threatened to cut off shipments to the U.S. and shut off power to homes in New York, Michigan, and Minnesota.
“We keep the lights on to 1.5 million homes and manufacturing in New York, Michigan, and in Minnesota,” Ford said. “If [Trump] wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going down to the U.S.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the Trump administration’s tariffs, calling them a “drug-related policy” aimed at protecting American lives.
“Let’s differentiate between today’s tariffs, which are about saving Americans’ lives,” Lutnick told NBC News. “China makes the opioid products, and then Mexico and Canada feed them into America, and that’s got to end. They’ve done a nice job at the border, but they haven’t stopped the flow of fentanyl.”
Lutnick said the tariffs could be lifted if the three countries “can stop the flow of fentanyl” into the U.S.
He added that Trump’s long-term trade policy will take effect April 2, following the completion of a study assessing American imports and exports.
“This is not a trade war,” Lutnick said. “We are going to reset trade policy on April 2… Trillions and trillions of dollars of production [are] going to come back to America, creating new jobs in America, and that’s why Americans elected Donald Trump.”
In a statement Monday, Trudeau asserted that “there is no justification for these actions,” pointing to the White House’s argument that the flow of fentanyl warranted the tariffs.
“While less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada, we have worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike,” the statement said. “We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more co-ordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.”
Trump fired back at Trudeau on Truth Social Tuesday, stating: “Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”
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