OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians should expect to be in a trade war with the United States “for the foreseeable future.”
Trudeau made the comments during a press conference in Ottawa, the day after speaking to President Donald Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Asked about the call, which was the first time Trudeau and Trump spoke since the president hit Canada with 25 per cent tariffs and Canada retaliated with equal tariffs targeting $30-billion of U.S. goods, Trudeau said it was a “colourful call.”
He declined to comments on reports that the conversation grew heated at a times and profanity was used.
“I’ve been having conversations and working with Donald for over eight years now, and a lot of it is rolling with it,” Trudeau said.
As the prime minster was speaking, Lutnick told CNBC that Trump was likely to decide to exempt all trade covered by the free trade agreement with Canada, the U.S. and Mexico from the 25 per cent tariffs until April 2, which he announced for the auto-sector the day before.
Trudeau said while that “aligns with some of the conversations” Canadian officials have been having with the White House and is a “promising sign” he would wait to see an official agreement before offering Canada’s response.
Until then, he says Canada’s retaliatory tariffs will remain in place.
“I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war that was launched by the United States for the foreseeable future.”
“There are obviously conversations ongoing right now with the U.S. administration, but as I said a number of times, we will not be backing down from our response tariffs until such a time as the unjustified American tariffs on Canadian goods are lifted.”
As the U.S tariffs took effect early Tuesday, Canada hit back with 25 per cent tariffs on $30-billion worth of American goods. The federal government plans to expand its list of tariffs to cover another $125-billion worth of U.S. goods in roughly 20 days.
Asked whether Canada would decide not to move ahead with its second round of tariffs, Trudeau said conversations with Trump officials continue.
“There are obviously conversations ongoing right now with the U.S. administration, but as I said a number of times, we will not be backing down from our response tariffs until such a time as the unjustified American tariffs on Canadian goods are lifted.”
National Post
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