Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was talking tough on Saturday night, vowing to hit the Americans where it hurts when it comes to punishing tariffs imposed by US antagonist Donald Trump.
Following an all-day First Ministers meeting, Trudeau appealed directly to the American people at an otherwise somber press conference in Ottawa on Saturday night.
Quoting the late John F Kennedy, Trudeau made an emotional appeal to US citizens: “Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. “
Through the first part of his address, he struck a conciliatory tone, pointing out that Canada has stood side by side with Americans through world wars, natural disasters and calamities such as the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
“The solution is to partner with us, not punish us,” Trudeau added. “But we’re prepared to fight if necessary.”
“Vive la Canada.”
Then he launched retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of US goods, and followed by more on everyday items including alcohol, food — even Florida orange juice — along with furniture and and appliances to be followed by upcoming restrictions on things strategic commodities such as critical minerals.
Through his remarks, Trudeau seemed genuinely saddened by the turn of events and avoided making provocative statements against Trump or Americans in general whom he still referred to as Canada’s closest “partner and friend.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Trudeau said.
Among Canadians, Trudeau appealed for unity and said no part of the country would be forced to bear more than their share of the tariff burden — specifically Alberta’s energy sector.
Trudeau shrugged when he was told that Ottawa fans booed the American national anthem at the Senators game in Ottawa and insisted Canada would continue to stand alongside its American "family." But he also acknowledged there would be long lasting consequences extending beyond Trump's trade action.
“I think that Canadians perhaps don't understand why Americans are targeting their best friend and their closest ally and partner rather than targeting other countries of the world. I think Canadians are a little perplexed as to why our closest friends and neighbours are choosing to target us instead of so many other challenging parts of the world,” he said.
“I don't think there's a lot of Americans who wake up in the morning saying, ‘Oh, damn Canada. We always should really go after Canada’. We're there as friends, as partners. We always have been we always will be. Sure we're going through a difficult time right now. And yeah, emotions may run high here and there, particularly around hockey games.”
