Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s response to the Trump administration’s threatened 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum will be clear and firm, but stopped short of saying whether Ottawa will respond with dollar-for-dollar counter measures.
At an international summit in Paris, which Trudeau is attending, the prime minister called U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs “unacceptable.”
“Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum would be entirely unjustified,” Trudeau told reporters. “We are the [United States’] closest ally. Our economies are integrated.”
Trudeau said the federal government will work with the Trump administration over the coming weeks to make sure it understands the impact the levies would have on both the U.S. and Canada.
Asked PM Justin Trudeau if he would reciprocate with matching dollar-for-dollar tariffs on U.S. aluminum & steel imports. “As usual, we hope that it will not come to that,” he said. <a href=”https://t.co/GGjqh3edoh”>pic.twitter.com/GGjqh3edoh</a>
—@AshleyBurkeCBC
On Monday evening, Trump followed through on recent threats and signed orders imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports — including from Canada. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect March 12
When asked by CBC News if he would reciprocate with matching tariffs on aluminum and steel, Trudeau said he hopes that doesn’t have to happen.
“If it comes to that, our response, of course, will be firm and clear. We will stand up for Canadian workers. We will stand up for Canadian industries.”
Trudeau made the statement and answered three questions in Paris, on his way to the AI Action Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
J.D. Vance at same Paris summit
Trudeau says Canadian steel and aluminum are used in various industries, including defence, shipping and automotive.
The prime minister spoke to U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of the summit Tuesday.
A senior Canadian government official said Trudeau brought up the impact the tariffs would have in Ohio — Vance’s home state — where a trade war could drive up prices on consumer goods. It’s also one of the states where Trump promised to revive U.S. steelmaking to bring back industrial manufacturing jobs.
Vance didn’t respond to Canadian media’s questions about the tariffs while arriving at the summit on Tuesday.
The prime minister is working with international leaders to coordinate a response and will be travelling to Brussels on Wednesday to meet with European Union leaders and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.On Monday, Trump said the tariffs would be imposed on steel and aluminum from all counties “without exceptions or exemptions.”
He said the tariffs are meant to encourage production in the U.S. while taking another jab at Canada’s sovereignty. “If we make it in the United States we don’t need it to be made in Canada,” Trump said.
“We’ll have the jobs, that’s why Canada should be our 51st state.”
Quebec’s aluminum industry is feeling a bit of déjà vu. During his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a 25 per cent surtax on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminum. This time, both will be subject to the 25 per cent rate.
