Trudeau Calls for National Support as Trade War with Trump Escalates

[Social Media]

 

As tensions between Canada and the United States continue to rise over newly imposed tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging citizens to support domestic industries. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc has acknowledged that while it is unlikely Canada can prevent the implementation of Trump’s latest tariffs set to take effect on Tuesday, there may be a chance for renegotiation in March.

 

LeBlanc, speaking to Canadian TV network CTV, shared insights from discussions with U.S. officials, stating, "My conversations with (U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee) Howard Lutnick and others in the administration tell me that perhaps in March there’s a window again." However, he also admitted the situation remains highly uncertain. "But most of this is so unpredictable," he added.

 

Canada and the U.S. have long been close allies, with a free trade agreement in place since 1994. Yet, trade relations have been fraught with tension, particularly during Trump’s previous term in office when he imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminum and a 25% tariff on Canadian steel, citing national security concerns. Ottawa responded with its own tariffs targeting politically significant American goods, such as Florida orange juice and whiskey from Kentucky and Tennessee, the home of then-Senate Leader Mitch McConnell. Eventually, both nations lifted the tariffs a year later.

 

Under former President Joe Biden, trade tensions cooled slightly, though disputes persisted. His administration increased tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, raising them from 8.05% to 14.54%.

 

Now, as the U.S. prepares to implement a sweeping 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, Canada is retaliating. Starting Tuesday, the Canadian government will impose 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods, maintaining them until the U.S. withdraws its own measures. The list of affected goods includes live poultry, smoked meats, sausages, dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese, as well as various fruits, vegetables, coffee, wine, pasta, and even chocolate.

 

Trudeau is rallying national unity, warning of the economic hardship that could follow. With roughly 75% of Canadian exports going to the U.S., the impact of these tariffs could be severe, particularly in the auto manufacturing sector. Economists predict that if the tariffs persist for five to six months, Canada could face a recession, leading to widespread job losses.

 

“Many among us will be affected by this, and we will have some hard times. I ask you to be there for each other,” Trudeau said in a national address on Saturday following Trump’s tariff announcement. “Now is the time to choose Canada,” he urged, encouraging citizens to buy Canadian-made products and vacation domestically instead of traveling abroad.

 

Some Canadians have already embraced the call to action. Social media users are sharing guides on how to avoid purchasing American goods, while others are canceling U.S. travel plans. Provincial governments are also taking action, with several planning to remove American alcoholic beverages from store shelves starting Tuesday to bolster local businesses and send a strong message of unity.

 

Globally, Trump’s tariff decisions have sparked widespread reactions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has directed her economy minister to impose retaliatory tariffs of 25% on U.S. goods. Meanwhile, China’s commerce ministry has announced plans to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and implement countermeasures to protect its interests. In Europe, France’s industry minister Marc Ferracci stated, "It's clear we have to react" to proposed EU tariffs, while Italy’s finance minister Adolfo Urso stressed the need to avoid "triggering a devastating trade war."

 

Despite international criticism, Trump remains firm in his stance, insisting that any economic pain caused by the tariffs is "worth the price." He has even reiterated his controversial suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S.

 

As tensions mount and economic repercussions loom, Trudeau’s call for national solidarity remains strong. The coming months will determine whether Canada and the U.S. can find common ground or if this trade dispute will escalate further, with lasting consequences for both economies.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2025-02-03

 

 

[flyingtlger]

20 minutes ago, Social Media said:

trade relations have been fraught with tension, particularly during Trump’s previous term in office

Here we go again....

[Walker88]

I don't know what's more entertaining....watching the lunacy of this encore Presidency, or listening to his cult rationalize and justify all of his actions and statements. It's a bit like the movie "Being There", with everyone interpreting the meaningless sayings of the idiot Chance the Gardener.

 

It's also like a horror movie, where some poor character enters a room thinking she's safely fooled the killer, while the guy with the chainsaw is behind her door. The audience knows he's there and she's about to get slaughtered, but she is feeling relief that---in her mind---she escaped. Cue the blood curdling screams and the gruesome dismemberment......

 

There is a slight change in tone , however, from the campaign lies to today's reality. In the campaign, he said he could fix everything in a day. or regarding the war in Ukraine, an afternoon. Now he says Americans "must be prepared for some pain". Yes, he committed crimes, but America was sentenced to 4 years hard time. His sycophants got their dream candidate, but are going to see it's really a nightmare.

 

By the way, the word "pain" has been borrowed from Elon Musk, who used it in regards to his ideas for DOGE. It seems Elon might still be President-in-Fact, and with a $3-400 billion nest egg, he hardly cares what happens to the masses.