Trudeau Warns of Retaliatory Tariffs, Says Americans Will Pay More If US Imposes Tariffs on Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is joined by Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc, back left to right, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, as he holds a press conference during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Canada, on Jan. 21, 2025. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Thursday that the country would respond with retaliatory tariffs if the United States follows through with plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Trudeau promised Canada would counter with a “strong and robust response” if newly inaugurated President Donald Trump were to make good on his promised tariffs, “whether it be back on Jan. 20th, on Feb. 1st or Feb. 15th as a Valentines Day present, or on April 1st or whenever.”

“We don’t want this but we will respond if necessary,” Trudeau said of the potential retaliatory tariffs.

Trudeau, who announced earlier this month that he will resign as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, added that “everything is on the table” when it comes to retaliatory measures.

Canadian lawmakers are currently looking into wide-sweeping retaliatory tariffs for everything from American orange juice and toilets to some steel products.

Trudeau warned that tariffs would lead to higher prices not only for Americans who are already grappling with high inflation but for Canadians, too.

“It would be bad for Canada, but it would also be bad for American consumers,” Trudeau said, adding that prices would rise for “just about everything.”

“We don’t think [Trump] wants that,” he said.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he is considering applying 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada—two of America’s top three trade partners—as early as Feb. 1 unless they take steps to curb illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Trump, who was sworn in for a second term on Monday, also said he may impose a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports, beginning on the same date.

Prior to his election, Trump said he would impose such tariffs on Canada and Mexico within his first day of taking office. Instead, he has asked federal agencies to investigate potential unfair trade practices with any country and to recommend associated trade policies.

Experts Warn Tariffs Could Drive Up Costs

Speaking from Ottawa, Trudeau defended Canada’s actions to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He told reporters that less than 1 percent of illegal drugs or immigrants entering the United States come from Canada.

Trudeau also noted that Canada is investing “over a billion dollars” and strengthening its border, seemingly referencing the federal government’s recently unveiled $1.3 billion plan to boost border security in response to Trump’s concerns.

The plan promises the creation of new security units and the deployment of additional helicopters, drones, and canine teams to the border to intercept illegal drugs, among other measures.

Additionally, the outgoing prime minister praised the work of law enforcement officials, pointing to the recent seizure of a record 835 kilograms of cocaine in Toronto with an estimated street value of approximately $83 million.

The seizure marks the largest drug bust in the city’s history. Trudeau said the drugs were bought into the country from the United States via Mexican cartels.

“We have challenges there on both sides of the border and we are there to work constructively with [the Trump administration],” he said.

Some analysts have said that Trump’s tariffs on Canada—America’s largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium—could lead to increased prices for Americans across the board, including for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol, and other goods.

They could also drive up prices at the pump, analysts say.

Trudeau said on Thursday that instead of threatening tariffs, the U.S. government should be working with Canada on “our energy, on our critical minerals,” and “on the goods they need to deliver the economic growth that Donald Trump has promised.”

“That is our first choice,” he said. “If they do move forward on tariffs we are ready to respond in a strong way but in a way ... to figure out how to get them removed as soon as possible.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.