Washington, D.C.: President Donald Trump stated that if Canada enacts retaliatory tariffs against the United States, the U.S. will respond by raising its tariffs by an equivalent amount.
Trump's comments followed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement on Tuesday regarding the implementation of 25 percent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods.
On the same day, President Trump took to his social media platform to convey, "Please inform Governor Trudeau of Canada that when he imposes a retaliatory tariff on the U.S., our reciprocal tariff will immediately increase by the same amount!"
Trudeau made his announcement during a speech on Tuesday and later shared details through a series of posts on X.
"The moment U.S. tariffs took effect this morning, Canada responded. We will impose 25% tariffs on $155 billion of American products, starting with $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and the remaining $125 billion in 21 days," the post stated.
Describing Canada as the U.S.'s closest partner, ally, and friend, Trudeau asserted that Canada would not shy away from a confrontation when the nation's interests are at stake.
"Today, the United States initiated a trade war against Canada: their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. Canadians are reasonable, but we will not retreat from a fight. Not when our country is at risk," the post emphasized.
In his address, Trudeau remarked, "They have opted to start a trade war that will primarily harm American families."
Addressing the Fentanyl crisis, Trudeau underscored the measures taken by the Canadian government to tackle the issue.
He specifically focused on the topic of tariffs, stating, "There is absolutely no justification or need for these tariffs today."
The President of the United States has consistently portrayed his assertive tariff strategy as a means to enhance domestic manufacturing, according to Al Jazeera.
In addition to the tariffs placed on Mexico, Canada, and China, Trump has implemented extensive tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel. He has also instructed his advisors to evaluate reciprocal tariffs for any trade agreements considered imbalanced.
In a previous post on Truth Social, Trump indicated that the most effective way for foreign businesses to evade tariffs is to relocate to the United States, as reported by Al Jazeera.
