Trudeau vows Canada will respond to Trumps tariffs, but says burden will be shared across regions
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Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his opening remarks as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Minister of Finance, Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, right, look on at a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-01-15T23:20:59Z VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Canadas outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that nothing is off the table when it comes to responding to proposed tariffs by President-elect Donald Trump, but that no single region of the country should bear the full brunt of that response.Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports.We have to respond to the challenge were facing, Trudeau said following a five-hour meeting in Ottawa with Canadas provincial premiers to discuss Trumps threats. We also have to make sure the burden is shared across the country.We cant punish just one region, because tariffs have more impact on that region, Trudeau said.Ontarios Premier Doug Ford said the provinces need to be united in their response to Trumps threats.The retaliatory tariffs need to be hard, said Ford, who spoke to the media prior to the meeting. He donned a hat that said that Canada Is Not For Sale. We have to send a message, he said.Also on Wednesday, Canadas Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson warned U.S. lawmakers in Washington that Trumps tariff threats would inflict economic pain on Americans, with higher prices and job losses. Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, has said he will use economic coercion to pressure Canada to become the nations 51st state. He also continues to erroneously cast the U.S. trade deficit with Canada a natural resource-rich nation that provides the U.S. with commodities like oil as a subsidy. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.It has been suggested Canada could stop energy shipments to the United States, a move opposed by Daniele Smith, the premier of Canadas oil-rich province of Alberta.In a statement posted on X, Smith said she agrees with several strategies that were discussed during Wednesdays meeting. Alberta will simply not agree to export tariffs on our energy or other products, nor do we support a ban on exports of these same products, said Smith, who attended the meeting virtually and did not sign the final news release.Until these threats cease, Alberta will not be able to fully support the federal governments plan in dealing with the threatened tariffs, Smith said.Almost a quarter of the oil the U.S. consumes every day is from Canada, with Alberta exporting 4.3 million barrels a day to the U.S. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. consumes about 20 million barrels a day, while domestically producing about 13.2 million barrels a day.During the news conference, Quebec Premier Franois Legault was asked if he would support halting hydroelectric or aluminum shipments to the U.S.We first have to see what Mr. Trump does, said Legault. But what Im seeing is nothing is off the table.Also on Wednesday, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said Ottawa will add 60 new drones at the Canada-U.S. border and will deploy two new helicopters this week as it moves to ratchet up security.The Liberal government pledged close to $1 billion to border upgrades after Trump expressed concerns about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.
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