Leaders across Canada are calling for retaliation and unity in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports.
Early聽Saturday evening, Trump signed an executive order declaring 25 per cent tariffs on almost all Canadian goods, and a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products, will begin on Tuesday.聽
Federal leaders react
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs with some kicking in Tuesday, while others take effect in 21 days, at a press conference Saturday night.
- Raisa Patel, Josh Rubin, Tonda MacCharles, Abby O鈥橞rien
鈥淭his is a choice that, yes, will harm Canadians, but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people,鈥 he said. 鈥滱s I have consistently said, tariffs ... will raise costs for you.鈥
The tariffs on U.S. imports will include American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and vegetables, perfume, clothing, furniture, sports equipment, materials like lumber and plastics, and more.
Trudeau said he hopes to speak with President Trump soon but has been unable to reach him since the inauguration.
The prime minister said before the press conference that he will be speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and they “did not want this, but Canada is prepared.”
Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre on Saturday condemned the “massive, unjust and unjustified tariffs” before calling for the Liberal party to recall Parliament and pass a new bill to combat tariffs.
Poilievre’s plan, , includes dollar-for-dollar tariffs that are “carefully aimed at maximizing impact on American companies while minimizing impact on Canadian consumers,” and specifically retaliates against American steel and aluminum.
Poilievre also said the plan would involve giving all the tariff revenues to affected workers and businesses, passing a massive emergency tax cut, knocking down interprovincial trade barriers, rebuilding the military and green-lighting liquified natural gas plants, pipelines, mines, factories and port expansions to overseas markets.聽
In a statement released Saturday morning, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said 鈥淭rump’s tariffs have Canadian workers worried about their jobs and even higher prices.”
“We can’t let them pay the price. Our plan puts workers first聽鈥 by fighting back with retaliatory tariffs and increasing supports to create good union jobs in Canada,鈥 added Singh.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland suggested Canada should target Elon Musk and alcohol in retaliation.聽
鈥淚f Donald Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, we must hit back 鈥 dollar for dollar 鈥 starting with 100% tariffs on all Tesla vehicles and U.S. wine, beer, and spirits. We must protect Canadian workers and businesses,”聽
Mark Carney, candidate for the leader of the Liberal party, that “the tariffs imposed by the United States today are a clear violation of our trade agreements,” adding that the situation requires “the most serious trade and economic responses in our history.”
Marc Garneau, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, also responded to the proposed tariffs in a聽聽early Saturday morning.
鈥淪ometimes threats can force positive long-term change. This is such a moment. In addition to counter-tariffs, Canada must also focus, more than ever before, on improving its labour productivity, lowering interprovincial trade barriers, and increasing its defence spending,鈥 said Garneau.聽
Unifor National president Lana Payne said the implementation of the tariffs is a declaration of a trade war with Canada.聽
鈥淭rump鈥檚 decision to go to battle with America鈥檚 largest trading partner will hurt working people on both sides of the border and inflict real economic damage to both countries. The U.S. tariffs are reportedly scheduled to come into effect on Tuesday. I believe Trump has underestimated Canadians,” said Payne who added “we will never forget this act of hostility against our workers, and we must take every measure possible聽鈥 utilize every ounce of creativity we have聽鈥 to build a strong, resilient, and diverse economy to never be held hostage by America again.鈥
Ontario leaders react
In a statement issued Saturday evening, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said he was 鈥渆xtremely disappointed鈥 by Trump鈥檚 decision to 鈥渨alk away from a trading relationship that, for decades, has made life better for millions.”
鈥淚 wish we weren鈥檛 here. I wish Ontario and Canada were working together with our American friends and allies to make our two countries the richest, most successful, safest, most secure on the planet,鈥 said Ford鈥檚 statement, sent by a spokesperson to the Star. 鈥淚nstead, President Trump has chosen to move forward with tariffs that will only hurt America and make Americans poorer.鈥
Ford said the coming weeks could be 鈥渋ncredibly difficult鈥 for Ontario, estimating the tariffs could put nearly 500,000 jobs across the province at risk and urging the federal government to come back with a 鈥渇orceful鈥 response that matches the U.S. tariffs 鈥渄ollar for dollar.鈥
Speaking on CNN not long after, Ford stressed that impacts would be felt on both sides of the border and maintained imposing reciprocating tariffs on Ontario imports, including electricity, oil, and automotive products, was not off the table. Currently, Canada provides more than 60 per cent of America’s total oil imports.
“This is going to hurt Americans, it’s going to hurt Canada, we’re going to see inflation happen down in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s unjustified,” Ford said.
“It’s unfortunate, we don’t want to do it,” he continued, adding he’d “rather have a strong trading partnership with the U.S.”
Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberal party, condemned the tariffs as well as Ford’s response.聽
“Donald Trump has declared war on us. On our workers, our jobs, our factories and our people. In the face of such a devastating threat聽鈥 with hundreds of thousands of jobs hanging by a thread聽鈥 we need a premier who puts our people first. And his own politics last,” 聽Saturday evening.
Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario NDP party, spoke about the threat in a 聽Saturday afternoon.
“Trump will try to pick us off one by one. But make no mistake: I鈥檓 ready to lead the fight or every single worker and every single job in Ontario. Tough tariff responses. Income protection. A guarantee that you can pay the bills, and keep people working. Strong. United 鈥 from the shop floor to Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill,鈥 Stiles said.聽
Premiers across Canada
Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault addressed the proposed tariffs Saturday, calling them “unjust.”
“Mr. Trump spoke specifically about aluminum and steel, key sectors that sustain our regions with good-paying jobs. We will protect our economy and defend our workers. We will respond quickly and without hesitation. But the goal is to end these tariffs as quickly as possible. As soon as we know the exact content of the presidential decrees concerning these unjustified tariffs, I will react to inform Quebecers of what happens next,”
on Saturday his province’s initial response to the American tariffs, calling the move an “unprecedented attack.”
Eby said his first step is “directing the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to immediately stop buying American liquor from ‘red states’,” and having the top-selling 鈥渞ed-state鈥 brands removed from shelves聽while directing his government and Crown corporations “to buy Canadian goods and services first.”
“President Trump鈥檚 25% tariffs are a complete betrayal of the historic bond between our countries and a declaration of economic war against a trusted ally,鈥 Eby said.
In January, B.C. released a preliminary assessment of the tariffs that showed the province could see聽a cumulative loss of $69 billion in economic activity between 2025-28, along with the loss of more than 120,000 jobs, according to the release.聽
The report also estimates a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian mineral exports alone would cost American companies more than $11 billion (U.S.).聽
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a post to social media that she is disappointed by the looming tariffs on Canadian goods and聽claimed the reduced tariff for energy was in part a recognition of her government’s advocacy.
Smith has pursued diplomacy in the face of tariff threats, including visits to Trump’s Florida home and to Washington to defend cross-border energy trade.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says in a social media post that the tariff “is an attack on Canada and who we are,” before he referenced Trump’s promise in his last presidency to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
“Trump built a wall, but it’s a tariff wall targeting us,” said Kinew.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe reacted by saying Canada’s priority should be border security.聽
“Canada鈥檚 largest trading partner has been clear in their priority. Saskatchewan has been equally clear about stopping the flow of fentanyl and illegal migrants,” , adding that “we have asked the federal government to commit to accelerating funding to meet our 2% NATO commitment. We further support Alberta鈥檚 position in calling on the federal government to immediately appoint a Border Czar to ensure our borders are secure for Canadians and Americans. To protect the Canadian economy and avoid potential tariffs tomorrow, today is the day for the Government of Canada to act swiftly and appropriately.”
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says Canada must stand strong and united against the threat of tariffs, and that her team will use every tool to put an end to them.
With files from聽Josh Rubin, Tonda MacCharles, Raisa Patel, Victoria Gibson and聽The Canadian Press.
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