Canada took a wait-and-see stance Wednesday on US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs, but the country’s leaders intend to strike back if the threat is carried out.
“Everything is on track,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canadian provincial premiers at a meeting called to develop a strategy response to Trump’s threat. But it was first decided to wait to see if Trump would carry out his threat after next week’s inauguration.
Trudeau also said Canada has developed a preliminary list of $105 billion worth of US goods on which it plans to impose duties in response to possible actions by the Trump administration.
Ottawa does not intend to impose duties first and will only do so if the Trump administration implements its plans. In addition, the list of goods prepared by the Canadian authorities is preliminary and may be supplemented in the future.
Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the country was ready to take measures in response to possible US tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian goods, and the country’s Prime Minister Melanie Joly specified that Ottawa was ready to stop supplying electricity and energy products to the US.
On November 25, Trump said he planned to impose tariffs of 25% on all goods from Canada and Mexico on the first day of his presidency, citing problems with illegal migration and drug smuggling. He then threatened Canada to become the 51st US state because of unresolved issues. In response, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien called on Trump to remember Canada’s independence and the gravity of the world situation.
