Paris, France — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has strongly criticized the United States’ decision to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, calling the move “entirely unjustified” and “unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters in Paris early Tuesday morning, Trudeau stated that the Canadian government would work with U.S. officials before the tariffs take effect to emphasize their negative impact. However, he made it clear that if necessary, Canada would respond decisively.
“If it comes to that, our response will be firm and clear,” he said. “We will stand up for Canadian workers. We will stand up for Canadian industries.”
On Monday, the U.S. president signed an executive order removing Canada’s exemption from the 2018 steel tariffs, increasing duties to 25 percent, while aluminum tariffs were raised to 10 percent. The U.S. administration justified the decision by citing national security concerns and global overcapacity affecting the American market.
Trudeau rejected this reasoning, emphasizing the deep economic integration between Canada and the U.S. in key sectors such as defense, shipbuilding, and automotive manufacturing. “Together, we make North America more competitive,” he stated.
While Trudeau did not commit to a dollar-for-dollar response, Canada has previously retaliated against similar trade measures, notably during the NAFTA renegotiations in 2018 before securing an exemption.
This latest trade action follows a recent agreement between Canada and the U.S. to pause cross-border tariffs for at least 30 days.
Trudeau, attending an international summit on artificial intelligence in Paris, briefly spoke with the U.S. vice president about the impact of steel tariffs in Ohio. However, the vice president did not address questions from reporters regarding the tariffs or recent U.S. political rhetoric on Canada.
During his visit to Europe, Trudeau is also seeking to strengthen trade ties with the European Union as both regions navigate economic challenges and uncertainty stemming from U.S. policies. He stated that Canada will collaborate with other affected allies to respond to the latest trade measures.
