February 9, 2025

Canada will set its personal tariffs in opposition to US items in retaliation to broad 25 p.c tariffs President Donald Trump introduced Saturday on Canadian imports. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced a 25 p.c tariff on a complete of $155 billion value of American items — $30 billion of that on Tuesday when Trump’s tariffs go into impact, then an extra $125 billion after 21 days. Trudeau additionally warned that the US tariffs will hurt each international locations’ economies, significantly the auto business. “This can be a alternative that, sure, will hurt Canadians, however past that, it would have actual penalties for you, the American folks,” he stated in a press convention Saturday.

Trudeau provided a “far-reaching” listing of merchandise that will be topic to import taxes, together with American alcohol, orange juice, clothes, home equipment, lumber, and plastics, together with “a lot, far more.” Non-tariff strikes like reexamining public procurement insurance policies are additionally on the desk. Nonetheless, he stated that actions like limiting power exports would require extra cautious consideration as a result of “nobody a part of the nation must be carrying a heavier burden than another.”

The sweeping US tariffs, which embody a decrease 10 p.c tariff on power merchandise from Canada, are a serious shift in commerce coverage between the 2 international locations. Trump claims the tariffs — which he additionally imposed on Mexico, and elevated on items from China — are supposed to incentivize these international locations to stem the move of unlawful fentanyl into the US.

The US tariffs embody a clause searching for to stop retaliation, retailers together with The Wall Street Journal report, which might improve the penalties ought to the international locations impacted impose their very own tariffs. Regardless of this, Trudeau says that Canada’s new tariffs “are sturdy however acceptable on this case, and we’ll proceed to defend Canada, Canadians, and our future.”