Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada91裸聊视频檚 premiers will meet in Ottawa Jan. 15 to finalize a plan to respond to tariff threats from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, including discussing what the best targets are for Canada to retaliate with tariffs of its own.
The meeting comes as the federal and provincial governments are seized with responding to Trump91裸聊视频檚 promise to slap an across-the-board import tariff of 25 per cent on Canada and Mexico on Jan. 20 and his escalating rhetoric about turning Canada into the 51st state.
Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 office said earlier this week they were looking to meet in-person after two virtual first ministers91裸聊视频� meetings on Trump91裸聊视频檚 tariffs took place in November and December.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, after meeting virtually with other premiers Wednesday, confirmed that meeting will happen and said Ottawa has provided a 91裸聊视频渟mall list91裸聊视频� of proposed retaliatory tariffs. He would not reveal what they are.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 strategic for Canadians or Ontarians to hand out the list,91裸聊视频� Ford said. The premiers have a strong plan, but Ford said they want to hear what strategy the federal government has come up with. 91裸聊视频淟et91裸聊视频檚 just make sure that we do everything in our power, I mentioned to the premiers, to avoid these tariffs,91裸聊视频� Ford said.
In 2018, after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum during his first term in the White House, Canada retaliated with tariffs on dozens of American exports tailored to cause maximum pain to Republican leaders in their home states, including whisky, chocolate, yogurt, and orange juice.
Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 announcement Monday that he will resign as prime minister as soon as the Liberals elect a new leader added some uncertainty to Canada91裸聊视频檚 ability to respond, and prompted a new round of insults from Trump about Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 leadership. But Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has been at the forefront of the national response thus far, said Monday he won91裸聊视频檛 seek the leadership so he can focus solely on it.
Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly said she hadn91裸聊视频檛 decided whether to run or not but said in making her decision she is weighing her responsibilities as foreign affairs minister and the need to confront Trump91裸聊视频檚 threats. She was among several ministers who said Canada should not overreact to Trump91裸聊视频檚 threats but should also not take them lightly.
91裸聊视频淲hen president-elect Trump talks, we need to listen and we need to take him very seriously. I never take his threats lightly, but at the same time we can91裸聊视频檛 take the bait,91裸聊视频� Joly said.
LeBlanc, who attended the dinner at Mar-a-Lago in November where Trump first made the 51st state quip, initially dismissed it as just a 91裸聊视频渏oke.91裸聊视频�
That91裸聊视频檚 not how the government sees it now, with Trump continuing his taunts this week. Tuesday he said he would use 91裸聊视频渆conomic force91裸聊视频� to annex Canada and Wednesday posted a map of Canada and the United States online, with the American flag superimposed over both countries. Trump captioned it, 91裸聊视频淥h Canada.91裸聊视频�
International Trade Minister Mary Ng said Wednesday that Trump is 91裸聊视频渘ot91裸聊视频� joking about the U.S. somehow absorbing Canada.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 not and we are taking it seriously and we will respond seriously as well,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut I have done a lot of work meeting Canadian businesses, American businesses, American legislators and they understand the importance of this relationship.91裸聊视频�
Immigration Minister Marc Miller repeated an earlier comment comparing Trump91裸聊视频檚 rhetoric to an episode of the animated comedy South Park. He said he91裸聊视频檒l only start to worry if Trump appoints Eric Cartman, a foul-mouthed 10-year-old from the show, to the joint chiefs of staff.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 silly, it91裸聊视频檚 unbecoming of a president to say that, but we do have to take it seriously and we will continue to do that,91裸聊视频� he said.
In a post on X, Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault said Trump91裸聊视频檚 comments 91裸聊视频渕ust be taken seriously.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭here is clearly no question of Canada becoming the 51st American state, but Mr. Trump will use every opportunity at his disposal to increase his balance of power,91裸聊视频� Legault wrote in French. 91裸聊视频淎ll the more reason to keep a cool head and refuse to play the president-elect91裸聊视频檚 game.91裸聊视频�
He said his responsibility is to protect Quebec91裸聊视频檚 economy from 91裸聊视频渢he threat of tariffs that could cause significant damage.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淐ertainly we91裸聊视频檇 like to have less uncertainty in the federal government right now,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淗owever, Quebec and the rest of Canada are not without the means to act.91裸聊视频�
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said Wednesday that Trump has a history of making comments that start off as jokes but become policy.
91裸聊视频淭his is a strong and sovereign country, and it will always be a strong and sovereign country,91裸聊视频� Furey said. 91裸聊视频淭o have, unfortunately, our best friend 91裸聊视频� threaten our sovereignty is completely unacceptable.91裸聊视频�
B.C. Premier David Eby said he91裸聊视频檚 been having conversations with governors about how the tariffs would hurt both countries, including a call with Washington Governor Jay Inselee today.
91裸聊视频淎s always, Canadians stand ready to help our American friends when they are in need. However, we will never sacrifice our identity or independence to any other country in the world. And we will always stand strong against any threat to our people,91裸聊视频� Eby said.
Two former U.S. ambassadors to Canada also weighed in on how Canada should respond to the annexation threat.
Gordon Giffin, who served under former U.S. president Bill Clinton, said Trump has 91裸聊视频済one too far.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淯nfortunately, the president-elect has become enamoured with the line and he is almost just reverting to it in an unconscious way,91裸聊视频� he said.
Giffin said Canada should be calm and firm in its response.
91裸聊视频淚 think Canada and Canadian leaders ought to be dismissive of it,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 wouldn91裸聊视频檛 scowl and take offence. I would just be dismissive.91裸聊视频�
Bruce Heyman served as U.S. ambassador to Canada under former president Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. He also called on Canadian officials to keep their cool.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think everybody should be overreacting to this at this moment,91裸聊视频� Heyman said. 91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 overreact to every press conference and look at the opportunity you have ahead of you and work that diplomatically.91裸聊视频�
