Canada will impose 25% tariffs on U.S. goods from Tuesday if the Trump administration proceeds with its planned tariffs on Canadian products, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will, effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow, respond with 25 percent tariffs against 155 billion Canadian dollars ($107 billion) of American goods,” said Trudeau on Monday.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly also said on Monday that Canada is ready to hit back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs right away. “We know this is an existential threat to us. There are thousands of jobs in Canada at stake. Now, we’ve done the work, we are ready, should the U.S. decide to launch their trade war,” Joly said.
Canadian officials made a month-long diplomatic push to avoid the U.S. tariffs. Joly said Canada has responded to Trump’s concerns about the border, including naming a new “fentanyl czar” and listing Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.
Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said that Canada and the United States are no longer trade partners as before even if the tariffs are removed. “I don’t think we are going back there even if the tariffs are removed,” said Wilkinson.
Trump said on Monday that 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada will take effect on Tuesday.
On February 1, Trump signed an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, with a 10% tariff increase specifically for Canadian energy products.
On February 3, Trump announced that the additional tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would be deferred for one month, allowing more time for negotiations. According to this decision, the relevant tariff measures are set to take effect on March 4.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday that the Canadian province is ready to cut off electricity and critical mineral supplies to the U.S. in response to expected tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do anything, including cutting off their energy, with a smile,” Ford said.
Ford, also chair of the Council of the Federation, threatened to halt nickel exports, noting Ontario supplies 50% of U.S. nickel. “We will respond strongly, and I will stop shipments of nickel.”
Ford supports “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs on U.S. goods and backs the federal government’s response.