सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that Canada will respond to US trade action by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on some US goods.
Warning of a rift in long-term Canada-US relations, he said in dramatic tones, “Canada will respond to US trade action by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on C$155 billion ($106 billion) worth of US goods.”
The first phase of tariffs will be imposed on C$30 billion worth of US goods on Tuesday, with additional tariffs on C$125 billion worth of products to follow in three weeks. “We certainly don’t want to escalate tensions, but we will stand up for Canada, Canadians and Canadian jobs,” Trudeau said, adding that tariffs would apply to “everyday goods” such as American beer, wine and bourbon, as well as fruits, vegetables, consumer goods, lumber and plastics, among many other things.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, citing the threat posed by illegal immigration and drugs. Canadian exports to the United States will face a 25 per cent tariff starting Tuesday. However, energy resources from Canada will be subject to a lower 10 per cent tariff.
Trudeau said the trade conflict would have “real consequences” for both Canadians and Americans. These include job losses, rising food and gasoline prices, potential closures of vehicle assembly plants, and disruptions to access to Canadian nickel, potash, uranium, steel and aluminum.
Prime Minister Trudeau recalled that Canada has stood by the United States through “dark times,” from the Iran hostage crisis and the war in Afghanistan to deadly natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the recent California wildfires. “If President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, partnering with Canada is the way to go, not punishing us. Unfortunately, the actions taken by the White House today have divided us rather than united us.”
Earlier, Trudeau consulted with provincial premiers. They each said they would take additional steps later, such as removing American alcohol from local stores and seeking to immediately diversify their trade relations.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the US tariffs a “mutually destructive policy” that would “strain the important relationship and alliance between our two nations.” British Columbia Premier David Eby went further, calling the US tariffs a “complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries.”
“This is a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally and friend,” he said, warning that the damage to relations would be long-lasting. “We will never again be at the mercy of one person in the White House.” Meanwhile, in Ottawa, an over-capacity crowd protested the singing of the American national anthem before the start of an NHL hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild.
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