Politics
Trudeau Once Again Ramps Up His Rhetoric on Trump
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has escalated his rhetoric against President-elect Donald Trump, saying he will counter with his own set of tariffs if Trump follows through on his 25% tax threat.
“I will, of course, respond to unfair tariffs in several ways, as I did eight years ago, and we’re still looking at the right ways to respond,” Trudeau bragged Monday at a local chamber of commerce event in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Trudeau stated that there were indications that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive for Americans.”
Late last month, Trump announced that he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico unless the countries did more to stop the flow of migrants and illegal substances across the border into the United States.
Over dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Trudeau and Trump discussed trade and the border. According to others at the meal, Trudeau expressed concern about the tariffs’ impact on the Canadian economy. Trump interjected, stating that if the Canadian leader did not like it, Canada might become America’s 51st state.
Trump and tariffs
“I’m a big believer in tariffs,” Trump stated during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press broadcast on Sunday. “We are subsidising Mexico, Canada, and many other countries throughout the world. All I want is a level, swift, and fair playing field.”
In 2018, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, including those from Canada. The Trudeau government replied by imposing targeted tariffs on select American-made items to pressure members of Congress from important states.
Some products included Kentucky bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorbikes manufactured in Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania ketchup.
Tariffs decreased in 2019 because a deal with the Trump administration had a political influence on the president’s party and colleagues. We could respond in a way Americans could feel,” Trudeau added.
According to the most recent figures from the US Trade Representative, the United States and Canada have one of the world’s greatest economic ties, with annual two-way trade worth about $1 trillion.
Trudeau in Trouble
Nearly three-quarters of all Canadian exports are intended for the United States, and economists warn that a 25% tariff would almost certainly cause the country to recession. Oxford Economics forecasts that the 25% tariff, along with Ottawa’s retaliatory duties, will cause a recession in Canada.
According to their modelling, Oxford Economics expects nonenergy exports to fall 2.9% between early 2025 and mid-2026, while business investment would fall 7%.
Justin Trudeau’s political career could face its most difficult battle yet in the upcoming election. Growing public dissatisfaction with inflation, housing shortages, and governance difficulties has eroded trust in his leadership.
Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, are capitalizing on this dissatisfaction by targeting younger voters and middle-class households. Trudeau’s brand, once fresh and hopeful, now faces allegations of being out of touch.
If current trends continue, he may face a historic defeat, ending his decade-long prime minister tenure.
