Canada pledges 'very strong' response if US imposes 25% tariffs

HAMILTON, Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged Tuesday a "very strong" response if newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump goes ahead and imposes a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.

"Donald Trump is, as always, a skilled negotiator and will do what he can to keep his negotiating partners a little bit off balance. We are confident in the facts on the ground," Trudeau said at a news conference in Quebec.

Stressing the need to do "more together" with the US, Trudeau said, "If there are tariffs, we are ready to respond and defend the Canadian interest, but we will continue to remain steady in these times of uncertainty."

Asked if there is a way to avoid the tariffs threat, the premier said, "We know that if the American economy is going to see the boom that Donald Trump is predicting, they're going to need more energy. They're going to need more steel and aluminum, more critical minerals, more of the things that Canada sells to the United States, every single day."

"So, our entire focus is on avoiding the imposition of tariffs on Canada," he said. "If they do move forward with tariffs, our response will be robust and rapid and measured, but very strong."

He emphasized that "everything is on the table" to avoid the tariffs.

Asked about challenges and possible frustration by a second Trump term, Trudeau said: "We've been here before."

"The first Trump presidency represented moments of uncertainty and threats of instability that we were able to work through constructively, responsibly for the benefit of workers, businesses and growth on both sides of the border," he said.

Trudeau also commented on the late slew of executive orders Trump signed on his first day in the Oval Office and said the Trump administration's focus is "on moving forward, rapidly, on creating benefits for the American economy in the extreme short term. That is something that we are prepared to help with and contribute to."

"We know that there is always going to be a certain amount of unpredictability and rhetoric coming out from this administration," he added.

The outgoing premier pledged to focus on defending Canadian interests while also "defending the economic relationship between Canada and the US."

"We know that a win-win is not just possible, it is desirable," he noted.

Trump told reporters late Monday while signing executive orders after returning to the Oval Office that he is planning to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada in February.

Since his election victory in November, Trump has referred to Canada as the "51st state."

He has threatened to slap the tariff on Canadian imports unless Canada takes steps to significantly reduce the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants crossing into the US.