If the United States imposes tariffs on its Canadian imports as soon as Donald Trump returns to the White House next Monday, Canada will be ready to retaliate immediately.
This was confirmed Friday morning by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, who is in Washington to try to convince elected officials of the Republican Party that imposing tariffs is a bad idea.
In a virtual press conference from the American capital, Mélanie Joly confirmed that, if Mr. Trump carries out his threat from the day he is sworn in, Canada will not take time before reacting.
“We have a series of measures that are already ready, certainly tariffs linked to imports, and if the president ever moves forward on Monday, we will be ready,” she said.
“And we are also ready for a second round. And we are ready for a third round. And we are ready to put maximum pressure, because it is a trade war that President Trump would start,” she added.
Dating in Washington
Since Wednesday, Ms. Joly has been in Washington to try to make Republican representatives of Congress understand that, if the Trump administration does indeed impose tariffs of 25% on Canadian products, the American economy will also suffer significant repercussions. .
According to her, several of her interlocutors were “surprised” to discover to what extent the United States economy could be affected by such tariffs, which she now describes as “Trump taxes”.
-“When it comes to working with President Trump, we know that the ultimate decision-maker is him. It’s the president himself. So, we must not take anything for granted and we must defend ourselves. We must be ready, and that is exactly the work I am doing here in Washington,” said Minister Joly.
Asked whether, three days before Donald Trump returns to power, she has the impression that the future administration will really move forward with customs tariffs of 25%, Mélanie Joly stressed that we must prepare to any eventuality.
“I think the decision (on the magnitude of the tariffs) is not made, and I think the only person who knows what decision will be made is the president himself,” she explained , prompting her to say that Canada’s response may be even more ready than the threat from the United States.
During her time in Washington, Ms. Joly spoke with both Republicans and Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Idaho Senator James Risch.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson was also in the US capital this week. He also said Thursday that Mr. Trump’s plan regarding tariffs was not clear, even among elected Republicans.
The Council on Canada-American Relations established by the Trudeau government must “support the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers at this crucial time for relations between Canada and the United States.”
Three former provincial premiers, Jean Charest, Rachel Notley and Stephen McNeil, are part of the Council on Canada-American Relations, as is Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman.
