Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sharply criticized President Donald Trump for initiating a trade war with Canada, vowing not to back down while pledging support for Canadian workers affected by the escalating tensions. In a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Trudeau condemned the U.S. tariffs and contrasted Trump’s aggressive stance toward Canada with his conciliatory approach toward Russia.
“Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada. At the same time, they’re talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin — a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” Trudeau said. He emphasized Canada’s resolve, stating, “Canadians are reasonable and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight, not when our country and the well-being of everyone in it is at stake.”
Trudeau assured Canadian workers that his government would provide relief to those impacted by the trade war and clarified that his dispute was with the U.S. administration, not the American people. “We don’t want this. We want to work with you as a friend and ally, and we don’t want to see you hurt either, but your government has chosen to do this to you,” he said.
The prime minister also directed pointed remarks at Trump, referencing a Wall Street Journal editorial critical of the president’s trade policies. “It’s not in my habit to agree with The Wall Street Journal, but Donald, they point out that even though you’re a very smart guy, this is a very dumb thing to do,” Trudeau said. He warned that a trade conflict between the two allies would only benefit their global adversaries.
Despite the tensions, Trudeau acknowledged his past collaboration with Trump, including the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which Trump once hailed as a landmark trade deal. However, Canada responded to the U.S. tariffs by imposing its own 25 percent tariffs on billions of dollars worth of American goods.
Trudeau urged Trump to reconsider his approach, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Canada cooperation. “We have done big things together on the world stage, as Canada and the U.S. have done together for decades, for generations, and now we should be working together to ensure even greater prosperity for North Americans in a very uncertain and challenging world,” he said.
In a swift response on social media, Trump fired back, threatening to impose reciprocal tariffs on Canada. “When Canada imposes retaliatory tariffs, we will levy tariffs by a like amount,” he wrote.
The escalating trade dispute has strained the historically strong relationship between the two nations, with Trudeau positioning Canada as a steadfast defender of its economic interests while appealing to Americans to recognize the broader implications of their government’s actions.
For more political updates, visit DC Brief.
