Canada Poised to Respond to Trump-Imposed Tariffs
Ontario’s premier issues a stern warning to Trump, stating, “I will do everything, including cut off their energy.”
TroibNews 
OTTAWA — President Donald Trump’s strategy to impose tariffs on Canadian goods is prompting a swift reaction from Ottawa, which is countering with levies on U.S. products, specifically targeting Republican-led states such as Florida, known for its oranges, and Ohio, an exporter of appliances.
The Canadian response to the U.S. trade measures, scheduled to be implemented on Tuesday, has been in preparation since Trump announced his plans on February 1 to disrupt decades of trade collaboration between the two countries.
Canada is set to implement 25 percent tariffs on C$30 billion worth of U.S. goods, with the possibility of an additional C$125 billion following a 21-day consultation period. The immediate targets for tariffs include food items—such as poultry, beef, fish, and yogurt—as well as various textiles and furniture.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly indicated that thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line.
“We are ready with C$155 billion worth of tariffs,” she stated to reporters en route to a Cabinet meeting, referencing the dual approach of their tariff retaliation.
Joly mentioned that she and her Cabinet colleagues reached out once more to their counterparts in the Trump administration to mitigate potential economic damage from the tariffs. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc discussed the matter with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed his readiness for a confrontation.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything, including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” he said on Monday. “I’m encouraging every other province to do the same.” Ontario supplies electricity to 1.5 million Americans.
Trump announced the tariffs while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was traveling to Ottawa from London, where he had met with King Charles III earlier that day and participated in a Ukraine solidarity summit with European leaders.
“No room left for Mexico or for Canada. The tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow,” Trump commented on Monday, undermining a significant Canadian political advocacy effort aimed at Washington.
The states likely to be affected by Canada’s retaliation include Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio, all of which have Republican leadership and were pivotal in bringing Trump to power with promises to alleviate living costs. A government source indicated that possible tariff targets might include coffee from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home state of Louisiana, as well as products from Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state that helped secure Trump’s election.
Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, argued that Trump’s actions could lead both Canada and the U.S. into a recession detrimental to jobs.
“Tariffs are a tax on the American people. Rather than bringing back affordability or creating a 'golden age' for business, tariffs will cost consumers at the checkout, cost producers more at every point along the supply chain, and force businesses to find alternate suppliers that are less reliable than Canadian ones,” Laing stated in a message to PMG.
“The U.S. can claim this policy is about hitting Canada where it hurts, but it will soon see the disastrous impacts at home in cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Louisville,” she noted.
Canada’s counteraction serves as a powerful warning in response to the ongoing campaign that saw Ottawa lawmakers and provincial leaders working diligently to communicate to U.S. officials that tariffs on Canada would also adversely affect Americans.
The lobbying efforts focused extensively on Trump’s new administration, Congress members, state-level politicians, and business leaders, aiming to demonstrate that tariffs could be avoided through reduced flows of fentanyl and illegal migrants from Canada into the U.S.
Despite Canada’s efforts, which included a C$1.3 billion investment in border security and additional resources, less than 1 percent of illicit drugs and people currently enter the U.S. The officials tasked with countering the tariffs included LeBlanc, Defense Minister Bill Blair, and Kevin Brosseau, appointed as Canada’s “fentanyl czar.”
Ultimately, their efforts seemed in vain.
“We know that we've answered questions that the Trump administration had regarding our efforts,” Joly stated concerning the border measures.
Trump’s motives extend beyond border issues; he aims to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., fulfilling his commitment to usher in a new 'golden age.' Central to this vision is the highly integrated automotive sector, which both nations developed through the Auto Pact established 60 years ago, laying the groundwork for later free trade agreements.
Trump proposed an alternative to tariffs by encouraging investment in American manufacturing.
“I would just say this to people in Canada or Mexico, if they're going to build car plants, the people that are doing them are much better off building here, because we have the market. We're the market where they sell the most. And so I think it's going to be very exciting,” he remarked.
The automotive industry is critical to Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, and Premier Ford reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding those jobs in strong terms.
“To the president: I’m a different type of cat. I’ll fight tooth and nail. I’m not going to roll over and get annihilated,” Ford declared.
Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, warned that tariffs could devastate the North American auto sector within a week.
“We know that the president never backs off during press conferences. I’m still hopeful that when we see it in writing, some of it will have a relationship with math, science, and the truth,” Volpe told PMG on Monday.
Miller commented to PMG last week that while meetings with individual lawmakers felt productive, there was an underlying sense of futility.
“No matter who you meet at the highest level, what is quite clear is that the decision ultimately is made by the president — and it can change.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
The Canadian response to the U.S. trade measures, scheduled to be implemented on Tuesday, has been in preparation since Trump announced his plans on February 1 to disrupt decades of trade collaboration between the two countries.
Canada is set to implement 25 percent tariffs on C$30 billion worth of U.S. goods, with the possibility of an additional C$125 billion following a 21-day consultation period. The immediate targets for tariffs include food items—such as poultry, beef, fish, and yogurt—as well as various textiles and furniture.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly indicated that thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line.
“We are ready with C$155 billion worth of tariffs,” she stated to reporters en route to a Cabinet meeting, referencing the dual approach of their tariff retaliation.
Joly mentioned that she and her Cabinet colleagues reached out once more to their counterparts in the Trump administration to mitigate potential economic damage from the tariffs. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc discussed the matter with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed his readiness for a confrontation.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything, including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” he said on Monday. “I’m encouraging every other province to do the same.” Ontario supplies electricity to 1.5 million Americans.
Trump announced the tariffs while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was traveling to Ottawa from London, where he had met with King Charles III earlier that day and participated in a Ukraine solidarity summit with European leaders.
“No room left for Mexico or for Canada. The tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow,” Trump commented on Monday, undermining a significant Canadian political advocacy effort aimed at Washington.
The states likely to be affected by Canada’s retaliation include Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio, all of which have Republican leadership and were pivotal in bringing Trump to power with promises to alleviate living costs. A government source indicated that possible tariff targets might include coffee from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home state of Louisiana, as well as products from Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state that helped secure Trump’s election.
Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, argued that Trump’s actions could lead both Canada and the U.S. into a recession detrimental to jobs.
“Tariffs are a tax on the American people. Rather than bringing back affordability or creating a 'golden age' for business, tariffs will cost consumers at the checkout, cost producers more at every point along the supply chain, and force businesses to find alternate suppliers that are less reliable than Canadian ones,” Laing stated in a message to PMG.
“The U.S. can claim this policy is about hitting Canada where it hurts, but it will soon see the disastrous impacts at home in cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Louisville,” she noted.
Canada’s counteraction serves as a powerful warning in response to the ongoing campaign that saw Ottawa lawmakers and provincial leaders working diligently to communicate to U.S. officials that tariffs on Canada would also adversely affect Americans.
The lobbying efforts focused extensively on Trump’s new administration, Congress members, state-level politicians, and business leaders, aiming to demonstrate that tariffs could be avoided through reduced flows of fentanyl and illegal migrants from Canada into the U.S.
Despite Canada’s efforts, which included a C$1.3 billion investment in border security and additional resources, less than 1 percent of illicit drugs and people currently enter the U.S. The officials tasked with countering the tariffs included LeBlanc, Defense Minister Bill Blair, and Kevin Brosseau, appointed as Canada’s “fentanyl czar.”
Ultimately, their efforts seemed in vain.
“We know that we've answered questions that the Trump administration had regarding our efforts,” Joly stated concerning the border measures.
Trump’s motives extend beyond border issues; he aims to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., fulfilling his commitment to usher in a new 'golden age.' Central to this vision is the highly integrated automotive sector, which both nations developed through the Auto Pact established 60 years ago, laying the groundwork for later free trade agreements.
Trump proposed an alternative to tariffs by encouraging investment in American manufacturing.
“I would just say this to people in Canada or Mexico, if they're going to build car plants, the people that are doing them are much better off building here, because we have the market. We're the market where they sell the most. And so I think it's going to be very exciting,” he remarked.
The automotive industry is critical to Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, and Premier Ford reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding those jobs in strong terms.
“To the president: I’m a different type of cat. I’ll fight tooth and nail. I’m not going to roll over and get annihilated,” Ford declared.
Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, warned that tariffs could devastate the North American auto sector within a week.
“We know that the president never backs off during press conferences. I’m still hopeful that when we see it in writing, some of it will have a relationship with math, science, and the truth,” Volpe told PMG on Monday.
Miller commented to PMG last week that while meetings with individual lawmakers felt productive, there was an underlying sense of futility.
“No matter who you meet at the highest level, what is quite clear is that the decision ultimately is made by the president — and it can change.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
