‘Dumb and unjustified’: Trudeau slams US tariffs, warns of prolonged trade war after ‘colorful’ call with Trump

US President Donald Trump and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The Canada-US trade war is right here to remain, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Thursday, declaring that even with exemptions for sure sectors, the financial standoff between the 2 neighbors will final “for the foreseeable future.” His remarks got here after what he described as a “colorful but constructive” dialog with US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
“Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs, removed,” Trudeau mentioned, a day after a tense telephone call with Trump. The prime minister didn’t maintain again, calling the trade war “dumb” and “unjustified,” whilst he acknowledged that discussions with Washington have been ongoing.
Also learn: ‘Fentanyl, Canadian elections’: What was mentioned in Trump and Trudeau’s ‘considerably pleasant’ 50-minute call?
Tensions spiked Tuesday when Trump launched a contemporary trade offensive, imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, whereas Canadian vitality exports have been hit with a ten% levy. The transfer, which despatched monetary markets into turmoil, prompted speedy retaliation from US buying and selling companions.
The White House tried harm management on Wednesday, providing a one-month exemption for US automakers. Trump, in talks with the CEOs of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, urged them to shift manufacturing to the US to flee the tariffs—additional fueling tensions with Canada.
Despite the diplomatic back-and-forth, Trudeau made it clear that Ottawa “will not be backing down” till the US removes its duties on Canadian items. But with Trump doubling down and Trudeau refusing to blink, this trade war is way from over—and each economies are bracing for affect.