Trudeau Warns of Retaliatory Tariffs, Says Americans Will Pay More If US Imposes Tariffs on Canada

The outgoing prime minister promised a ’strong and robust' response if the United States follows through with a 25 percent tariff on Canadian products.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined by Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc, (back left to right), Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, as he holds a press conference during a Cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Canada, on Jan. 21, 2025. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Jan. 23 that the country would respond with retaliatory tariffs if the United States were to follow through with plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Trudeau promised Canada would counter with a “strong and robust response” if newly inaugurated President Donald Trump were to make good on his promised tariffs, “whether it be back on Jan. 20th, on Feb. 1st or Feb. 15th as a Valentines Day present, or on April 1st or whenever.”