(BBC News) Canada will react forcefully and immediately if Donald Trump imposes tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.
The US president has said he could levy a 25% tariff on Canadian imports as soon as Saturday.
“It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act,” Trudeau said.
Tariffs are a central part of Trump’s economic vision. He sees them as a way of growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue.
Economists suggest that such a move could have devastating immediate impacts on Canada’s economy – while also leading to higher prices for Americans.
“I won’t sugarcoat it — our nation could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks,” Trudeau said in his televised address to Canadians.
Canada is trying to avoid a trade war altogether. It has pledged more than CDN$1 billion to boost security at its shared border with the US — a key point of contention for Trump, who appears to be using tariffs as a negotiating tactic.
Trudeau said all options were still on the table.
