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For the first time since US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian goods, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his argument against import taxes directly to the American public.
Trudeau told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview Thursday afternoon that a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods would hurt both countries.
“We have so many resources in Canada, more than our market can support, that we export them to our closest friend, who can rely on them. It’s a win-win,” he said.
In the first interview Trudeau has given since announcing he was stepping down as prime minister earlier this week, Tapper asked Trudeau about Trump’s recent comments that Canada should become the 51st state.
“That’s not going to happen. Canadians are incredibly proud to be Canadians. One of the ways we most easily define ourselves is, ‘Well, we’re not Americans,'” the prime minister said.
Trudeau said he believes Trump’s comments are intended to distract from the expected economic consequences of the tariffs if the president-elect follows through on his threat.
“Everything that American consumers buy in Canada is suddenly going to become a lot more expensive and that’s something we need to focus on a little bit more,” he said.
SEE | Trudeau on Canada as 51st state: ‘That’s never going to happen’:
On a visit to Washington, DC, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to make Canada the 51st state, saying that one of the ways Canadians define themselves themselves is: “We are Canadians because we are not Americans, and that is not going to change.”
Ottawa is preparing a list of hundreds of products made in the United States – including steel, plastics and orange juice – that Canada is considering retaliatory tariffs, according to a senior Canadian government source.
Trudeau told Tapper that the government was preparing to fight back if Trump makes good on his tariff threat, as Canada did it during its previous administration.
The prime minister was in Washington on Thursday for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Trump was also present, but the two did not speak. Speaking briefly to reporters, Trudeau repeated much of what he said on CNN and did not answer any questions.
Although this is Trudeau’s first appearance on a US television network since Trump issued his tariff threat, some of Canada’s prime ministers, specifically Doug Ford of Ontario and Danielle Smith of Alberta, have made several appearances in recent weeks to defend your arguments against tariffs.
Poilievre lays out his plan to confront Trump’s threats
Moments before Trudeau’s interview, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a campaign-style news conference in which he outlined how he would counter Trump’s threats.
Among the points he listed in his prepared remarks, Poilievre said he would offer more energy to boost the American technology industry, lower taxes to stimulate investment in Canada and make the economy “more independent and less vulnerable to threats from abroad.” .
“We will stand up and declare clearly that Canada is a sovereign and independent country, that we will protect our integrity as a nation through force,” he said.
Poilievre also vowed to take the case against the tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders.
“We should go to American workers in the Midwest and their union and business leaders and say, ‘How many jobs are you willing to lose by imposing tariffs on Canadian energy?'” he said.
SEE | Poilievre explains why he thinks ‘Ax the Tax’ is the issue at the ballot box:
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says he believes the carbon tax issue is important to Canadian voters because it could result in Canadian resource companies moving jobs and money south to the United States. He added that massive energy tax cuts are needed to get production back to normal. Canada.
While answering questions from reporters, Poilievre was asked if he has or plans to talk to Americans to make his case against the tariffs.
“Look, I’m not the prime minister. I respectfully ask the Canadian people to serve them in that role,” he said in response.
Poilievre, who has a considerable lead over the Liberals in the polls, called on Trudeau to call an election immediately.
“I need the mandate, the mandate to put our country first, to make the case to the American people,” he said.
Thursday was the first time Poilievre spoke to reporters since Trudeau announced he was leaving office. The Conservative leader argued that it didn’t matter who the Liberals chose as their new leader because “they’re like Justin.”
