‘When it comes to defending our great nation, there is no price we all aren't willing to pay,’ Trudeau says of U.S. tariffs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference on imposed U.S. tariffs with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Public Safety Minister David McGuinty on March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian goods as an attempt to cause “a total collapse of the Canadian economy” and “make it easier to annex us.”
He vowed that Canada would fight back, saying, “When it comes to defending our great nation, there is no price we all aren't willing to pay.”
Canada has imposed immediate tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. goods, with another $125 billion to follow in three weeks.
Trudeau criticized Trump's justification for the tariffs, calling it “completely bogus and completely unjustified” and rejecting claims that fentanyl was the reason. He accused Trump of siding with “a lying, murderous dictator” like Vladimir Putin while attacking Canada. “Make that make sense,” he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed Trudeau, saying Canada would “fight like we've never fought before” and suggesting retaliatory energy measures. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called Trump's actions “illegal,” and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Trump had “stabbed America's best friend in the back.” Poilievre distanced himself from Trump, saying, “I'm not a MAGA guy. I have one job to do: fight for this country.”
Trump responded on social media, warning that “our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”
Vice-President JD Vance insisted Canada had not done enough on fentanyl, despite data showing a 97% drop in seizures.
Canadian industry leaders warned of severe economic fallout, with Unifor calling for “a full-on trade war” while the Business Council of Canada said Trump's actions left the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement “in tatters.”
Trudeau told Canadians: “Do not give up… Canada remains the best country in the world.”
