Canadian Deputy Prime Minister resigns amid disagreement with Justin Trudeau

The Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, announced on Monday, December 16, her resignation from the government following disagreement with Justin Trudeau regarding Donald Trump's threats to impose 25% customs duties on all Canadian products. .

“We found ourselves at odds over the best path forward for Canada”wrote Chrystia Freeland, who is also finance minister, in a letter posted on the social network“a big challenge” to come for Canada. “Today our country is facing a great challenge. The new US administration pursues a policy of aggressive economic nationalism »she explains again.

“To be effective, a minister must speak on behalf of the Prime Minister and with all his confidence (…). You have made it clear that I no longer credibly possess that trust and the authority that comes with it.”writes Chrystia Freeland, who has long been part of Justin Trudeau's close guard.

She has held several ministerial positions since Mr. Trudeau came to power in 2015. She specifies that Friday a “other position within the firm” was offered to him. “I have concluded that, in my eyes, the only honest and viable path is to resign”she said.

From 2015 to 2017, M^me Freeland served as Canada's Minister of International Trade and oversaw the successful negotiation of Canada's free trade agreement with the European Union, CETA. She then served as foreign minister from 2017 to 2019, before becoming deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Canada has been reeling since President-elect Donald Trump announced two weeks ago that he planned to increase tariffs to 25% with his neighbors. Canada's main partner is the United States, where 75% of its exports go.