Trudeau Accuses Trump of Using US Tariffs to Push for ‘Annexation’ of Canada

Trudeau had announced on March 3 Canada is retaliating with 25 percent counter-tariffs targeting CA$155 billion of U.S. goods.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference on imposed U.S. tariffs as Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Public Safety Minister David McGuinty look on in Ottawa on March 4, 2025. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Trump administration’s decision to impose broad tariffs on Canada by citing fentanyl is an “excuse” to destroy Canada’s economy and set up “annexation.”

Trudeau said it’s not clear what President Donald Trump’s goal is with the border security-related tariffs, which came into effect on March 4. Canadian goods imported in the United States are subject to a 25 percent surtax, whereas energy imports are slapped with a 10 percent surtax.