President Trump on Tuesday threatened to add additional taxes on Canada if the U.S.’s northern neighbor Canada retaliates with its own, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed Trump’s newly implemented tariffs.
“Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!” Trump said on Truth Social, using his familiar nickname suggesting that the prime minister would be Canada’s “governor” if the country is acquired by the U.S.
The Trump administration imposed 25 percent tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico and a new 10 percent tariff on imports from China, which all went into effect on Tuesday at midnight. The moves have intensified a trade war, with those countries quickly moving to retaliate.
Trump last month signed off on reciprocal tariffs for any country that planned to put its own on the U.S.
Trudeau, in an address on Tuesday, promised that the Canadian government will protect its citizens and Canadian businesses from attacks and takeovers from the tariffs, warning American citizens that prices would rise.
The outgoing prime minister, who announced his intent to resign in January, also spoke directly to Trump in his address, saying, “we should be working together to ensure even greater prosperity for North Americans in a very uncertain and challenging world.”