Escalating tensions: Trudeau responds to Trump's latest tariffs

US President Donald Trump Trump made good on his tariff threat and announced plans to issue a new 25% tariff on steel and aluminum that will affect every nation in the world. But, these tariffs will hit Canada harder than most and stirred up a nasty reaction from Canadian leaders.

On February 9th, Trump revealed he planned to introduce a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports into the United States the following day. This wasn’t good news for many.  

The new tariffs would take effect immediately and would be applied against all countries and would match the tariff rates levied by other nations as well according to Reuters. 

“Very simply, it's, if they charge us, we charge them," Trump stated about the reciprocal tariffs he planned to impose. However, this decision would impact some more than others. 

Canada, Mexico, and Brazil are America’s largest steel supplies while South Korea and Vietnam also provide a lot of the all-too-important material according to data from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

According to TradeImeX, 77% of US steel imports from 2023-2024 came from just ten countries, Canada was at the top of that list providing 6.39 million metric tons of steel. 

Canada’s steel imports amounted to $8.36 billion, far and away the largest nation on the top ten list with Brazil providing $4.56 billion (3.49 million metric tons) and Mexico $3.73 billion (2.85 million metric tons).

Trump is already embroiled in a tariff dispute with Canada and Mexico, one that he was supposed to be pausing for thirty days. However, those promises are now broken.  

Canada would be hit especially hard by Trump’s new 25% tariffs since it not only supplies a large amount of steel to US manufacturers but also most of America's imported aluminum. 

According to figures published by Reuters, Canada supplied a total of 79% of America’s aluminum from January 2024 to November 2024. This means consumers will likely pay a very hefty price in the future, and Canada’s aluminum sector will be hurt. 

Canadian officials were quick to respond to Trump’s new threats. Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne warned that Canadian aluminum and steel were two major manufacturing inputs that affected a wide range of US sectors. 

"Canadian steel and aluminum support key industries in.  the U.S. from defence, shipbuilding and auto," Champagne wrote on X. "We will continue to stand up for Canada, our workers, and our industries."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a former Trump supporter turned enemy following his first round of tariff threats, responded to Trump’s latest provocation by noting that Trump’s “shifting goalposts and constant chaos” was putting Canada’s economy at risk. 

BBC News covered Ford’s comments, which he made on social media, and added that Ontario is an aluminum and steel hub that would be greatly affected by the new tariffs Trump plans to impose on the world. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Paris when the news of Trump’s new tariff threat broke but he had little to say about the issue when asked. 

Trudeau opted not to answer questions about whether or not he planned to retaliate to the likely steel and aluminum tariffs from Washington when asked by reporters during a press conference according to the Toronto Star. 

Trump made good on his 25% steel and aluminum tariff promises late into the day on February 10th, and despite what many had hoped would happen, he did not include a carve-out for Canadian steel or aluminum. However, there was one reprieve. 

The new tariffs will not take effect immediately. Canada and other countries will have until March 12th before the tariffs are enforced, which CBC News noted gave nations time to seek an exemption from the Trump administration. 

"All you have to do is make it in the United States. We don't need it from another country," Trump explained about steel and aluminum products while answering questions from the Oval Office. 

The US President also took another jab at Canada and his desire to see it become a US state. "If we make it in the United States we don't need it to be made in Canada. We'll have the jobs, that's why Canada should be our 51st state,” Trump said. 

Once the news was official, Trudeau commented on Trump’s new tariffs calling them “unacceptable” and threatened a firm response from Canada. However, he stopped short of providing any details according to CBC News. 

“Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum would be entirely unjustified," Trudeau told reporters when asked about Trump’s tariffs while at the AI Action Summit in France. "We are the [United States'] closest ally. Our economies are integrated."

When asked if Canada would reciprocate with dollar-for-dollar tariffs, Trudeau said: "If it comes to that, our response, of course, will be firm and clear. We will stand up for Canadian workers. We will stand up for Canadian industries."

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