Ottawa [Canada]: Canadian premiers have urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a strong stance in response to looming tariff threats from US President-elect Donald Trump. Some premiers suggested retaliatory measures, including cutting off energy supplies, while highlighting key products that Canada exports and the US depends on, as reported by CBC News.
Trudeau met with Canada’s premiers on Wednesday to strategize on how to address Trump’s trade concerns. This marked the second meeting since Trump announced plans to impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports after his inauguration in January.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who participated in the meeting, noted that several premiers supported a robust response to the potential US tariffs. She also gathered suggestions on products that could be targeted if retaliatory actions became necessary.
“Some premiers proactively identified products that their provinces produce and export to the United States — and which the US relies on — and which should be considered as part of the Canadian response,” Freeland stated.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, chair of the Council of the Federation, described the meeting as a “good start” and emphasized the need for Canada to prepare for the anticipated tariffs.
“Canada needs to be ready to fight and that Trump’s tariffs are 100 per cent coming. Folks, this is coming … it’s coming January 20th or 21st, and we need to be prepared. We need to stand as a country,” Ford stressed.
Ford proposed cutting off energy supplies to the US as a potential response. Canada is a major supplier of oil, natural gas, and electricity to the US.
“We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy,” he said. “I don’t want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontario, Ontarians, and Canadians as a whole.”
Trump announced last month his intention to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods unless both countries address what he described as an “invasion” of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigration into the US.
The US is a significant importer of Canadian goods. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the total value of Canadian imports in 2022 was USD 614.3 billion. Recent data from the US Census Bureau reveals that between January and September this year, the US imported approximately USD 435 billion worth of goods from Canada.