Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday called President Donald Trump’s tariffs “dumb” — using his first name — and threatened legal action through the World trade Organization (WTO).
Trump after months of threats on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. ET imposed a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on energy and critical minerals.
Trudeau then imposed counter-tariffs against the US, which also went into effect at midnight. Canada retaliated with $30 billion in tariffs on US products, rising to $155 billion in three weeks.
Trudeau referring to a Wall Street Journal article slamming Trump’s tariffs said, he's "not in the habit" of agreeing with the publication, but this time he does agree.
“Donald, they point out that even though you're a very smart guy, the tariffs are a dumb thing to do,” said Trudeau, speaking at a press conference Tuesday
“We will fight. Fighting is exactly what governments around the world will want to see.”
“And now, to my fellow Canadians. I won't sugarcoat it. This is going to be tough.”
Throughout his press conference, Trudeau dropped Trump's title of president and repeatedly called him "Donald."
Now, Canada awaits the US response, with Trump previously threatening to double the tariffs in Canada's engaging in a trade war.
And to further muddy the waters, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump could announce a pathway for tariff relief on Mexican and Canadian goods covered by North America’s free trade agreement as soon as Wednesday.
Trudeau promised to challenge Trump’s actions by filing legal claims through the WTO and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“We will be challenging these illegal actions by filing dispute resolution with the World Trade Organization and through the USMCA,” said Trudeau.
“In the meantime, our tariffs will remain in place until the US tariffs are withdrawn, and not a moment sooner.”
“Should these tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures.”
“Measures that will demonstrate there are no winners in a trade war.”
Trudeau will be hosting a First Ministers video call after the press conference Tuesday afternoon.
When asked about an export tax on Alberta energy, he refused to answer.
But in an interview with CBC, former Alberta premier Jason Kenney said such a tax should be kept on on the table.
When asked about a stimulus package to help individuals and small businesses, after his Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Monday said 100 millions of Canadians would lose their jobs in a tariff war, Trudeau said his government might rework EI (employment insurance) but offered no details.
Throughout Tuesday morning’s press conference, Trudeau repeatedly emphasized “Canadians don’t want this” and slammed Trump’s administrations for treating “its closest ally” in such a way “and putting us all at risk.”
“They've chosen to launch a trade war that will, first and foremost, harm American families,” said Trudeau.
“They've chosen to sabotage their own agenda that was supposed to usher in a new golden age for the United States.”
He accused Trump of wanting to decimate Canada so he could annex the nation as its 51st state.
Trudeau said the US have not honoured the work Ottawa has done to secure its border and said there is “no justification or need whatsoever for these tariffs today.”
“They've chosen to undermine the incredible work we've done together to tackle the scourge that is fentanyl, a drug that must be wiped from the face of the earth,” he said.
“So on that point, let me be crystal clear, there is absolutely no justification or need whatsoever for these tariffs today. Now, the legal pretext [the US] government is using to bring in these tariffs is that Canada is apparently unwilling to help in the fight against illegal fentanyl.”
“Well, that is totally false.”
He also addressed the war in Ukraine, and accused Trump of aligning himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he called a “murderous dictator.”
Trudeau said he has not spoken to Trump recently, but he’s made himself available.
“I’m always there to talk to Donald," said Trudeau.
“This is a very dumb thing to do.”
The Government of Canada on Monday released a “$30 Billion List” that detailed all the US products subjected to the 25% tariffs effective February 4.