(Montebello) US President Donald Trump promises a new era of prosperity for the United States. But he will not be able to make this promise a reality without Canada’s precious natural resources, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Posted at 10:09 a.m.
Updated at 10:42 a.m.
The choice of President of the United States is therefore simple. He will have to put aside his threat to impose tariffs of 25% on all Canadian products as of 1is February, as he mentioned while signing presidential decrees on Monday evening. Otherwise, the United States could have to do without steel, oil and critical minerals from Canada and turn to authoritarian regimes like China, Russia and Venezuela for supplies, he said. said the Prime Minister.
On the second day of his cabinet retreat, which focuses primarily on Canadian-American relations, Justin Trudeau reaffirmed that “everything is on the table” when it comes to Canada’s response and that he also supports a response “dollar for dollar” in the face of possible American tariffs.
“President Trump has said he wants to usher in a golden age for the United States. This will require more steel and aluminum, more essential minerals, and more reliable and affordable energy. More of everything to get the American economy running at full speed,” Mr. Trudeau said at a press conference.
Canada has all these resources. And we are ready to work with the United States to create a prosperous and secure North American economy. The alternative for them would be more resources from Russia, China or Venezuela. Canada is a safe, secure and reliable partner.
Justin Trudeau
Mr. Trudeau, who reacted for the first time to the president’s remarks since he was formally installed in power, recalled that Canadian energy powers the manufacturing sector, businesses and American homes. And he also pointed out that Canada buys more American-made goods than China, Japan and Germany combined.
“Our trade relationship with the United States is win-win. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to demonstrate this,” said the Prime Minister, recalling in passing the numerous visits made by some of his ministers to Washington and other American states to plead Canada’s cause. .
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with members of his cabinet and the Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, must also go to the American capital next week to meet her new counterpart, Marco Rubio, recently confirmed in his position.
“But if the president chooses to impose tariffs on Canadian products, Canada will respond. And everything is on the table,” warned the Prime Minister again.
The Trudeau government and the provinces have been working for several weeks on retaliatory measures in the event that the Trump administration imposes tariffs.
Ottawa and the provinces have agreed to a tariff response targeting American products worth between $35 and $40 billion. This first wave could be implemented in a short time. It would aim to limit, as far as possible, unduly penalizing Canadian consumers.
Orange juice, toilets and some steel products are among the U.S. products that could be hit with tariffs.
Canada’s second response could affect US products totaling $110 billion if Washington refuses to back down.
At a press briefing, Justin Trudeau maintained that Donald Trump “is a skillful negotiator”, who sometimes makes contradictory remarks about, for example, the date of imposition of tariffs, simply to destabilize his interlocutor. “But if there are unfair prices, we will respond robustly. And we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests.”
