On Monday night, Donald Trump announced he was considering imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that Canada is prepared to respond “with everything” to the 25% tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering implementing starting February 1.

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“If the president decides to proceed with tariffs on Canadian products, Canada will respond, and everything is on the table,” he said.

Should the United States impose the tariffs, Canada’s response will be “robust, swift, and measured to protect Canadian businesses and sectors,” he added

Trudeau concluded a two-day meeting with his cabinet today to discuss Trump’s arrival to power and the initial measures adopted by the U.S. president just hours after his inauguration ceremony.

Although the new U.S. administration initially indicated it would review trade relations starting in April before imposing tariffs, on Monday night, Trump announced he was considering imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Trudeau described Trump’s abrupt changes in less than 24 hours as a negotiation tactic that Canada had already experienced during his first presidency between 2017 and 2021.

“Trump has always been a skilled negotiator and will do whatever he can to keep his partners a bit off balance,” he explained, adding that he trusts the facts of the bilateral relationship will prevail over Trump’s impulses.

Trudeau highlighted the United States’ reliance on Canada for resources such as oil, gas, and electricity. “This is what Canada provides—affordably, securely, and reliably,” he said, noting that the alternative for the United States would be to source more resources from Russia, China, or Venezuela.

Since 1994, Canada, the U.S., and Mexico have maintained a free trade agreement worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually. For example, in 2023, trade between Canada and the U.S. reached nearly US$1 trillion.

Canada faces significant trade dependence on the U.S., with 77% of all Canadian exports destined for its neighbor and partner. A review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is scheduled for 2026.

Canadian analysts have pointed out that, similar to what occurred during the renegotiation of the agreement between 2017 and 2018, Trump’s threats may be a tactic to extract concessions from Canada and Mexico ahead of the 2026 review.

teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE

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