Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to fight back after Trump said a levy of 25% on Canadian and Mexican imports and an additional 10% tax on Chinese goods would come into force on Tuesday., Feb. 4.
Trudeau urged Canadians to “check the labels, do their part, and choose Canada whenever possible”.
Trudeau, who on Sunday, Feb. 2, announced that Canada would impose 25% tariffs on $106 billion worth of US imports in a retaliatory move against Donald Trump, took to X to write, “Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada. Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Wherever we can, choose Canada.”
Meanwhile, Canadian provinces have started banning US products.
Canada’s Nova Scotia took American alcohol off its shelves and doubled for commercial vehicles from the US in response to the tariffs imposed by Trump.
Canada’s Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, unveiled a comprehensive list of products subject to retaliatory tariffs on US goods, totalling an estimated USD 30 billion, as reported by CNN. The list includes US-made alcohol, household appliances, tools, firearms, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, clothing, and more.
Meanwhile, Chrystia Freeland, a candidate for Prime Minister and rival to Justin Trudeau, stated, “We don’t want to have this fight, but we are not going to lose it.”
Freeland criticized the tariffs as a “terrible” and “lose-lose” situation, suggesting they would ultimately hurt Americans who rely on Canada for essential goods.
Canada will take legal action under the relevant international bodies to challenge the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on most Canadian goods, a senior government official said on Sunday, calling the tariffs illegal and unjustified.
“We will obviously pursue the legal recourse that we believe we have through the agreements that we share with the United States,” the official said, briefing reporters in Ottawa on condition of anonymity.