Update [03/04/2025, 1:19 p.m. EST]: Trump reacted to Trudeau, writing on Truth Social: “Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not going down without a fight.
He announced Monday that Canada will retaliate against the 25% tariffs President Donald Trump imposed starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, per Mediaite.
Trump is imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China because of the influx of fentanyl from these countries.
Trump is imposing 10% tariffs on Chinese imports and 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump posted on social media last week.
On Monday, Trudeau turned the tables by announcing 25% tariffs on $155 billion in American goods.
“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian energy,” Trudeau said in a statement. “Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”
Trudeau continued, stating 1% of the fentanyl seized at American borders come from Canada.
“Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered,” Trudeau said . “Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will, effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow, respond with 25 per cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time.”
He added the tariffs will stay as long as there are tariffs against Canada from the U.S.
“Because of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs,” Trudeau said. “Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term.”
And it is not just Trudeau putting up a fight.
According to The Hill, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he is ready to cut off electricity exports to the U.S. if the U.S. tariffs come to fruition.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” Ford said, the Toronto Sun reported.
“They rely on our energy. They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard,” he said.
