Ottawa reportedly considering higher taxes on some U.S. products to respond to Trump

Photo: Adrian Wyld The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Friday that he had no doubt that Donald Trump intends to implement his announced increase in customs duties.

Agence France-Presse in Ottawa

Published yesterday at 3:49 p.m.

• Canada

Canada is considering imposing additional tariffs on some U.S. items, a government source said, as the country takes seriously Donald Trump's threats to impose a 25% tax on Canadian products.

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Ottawa is considering all eventualities, including the possibility of responding by increasing customs duties, a government source told AFP, adding that work has begun to identify target products.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that he had no doubt that Donald Trump intends to implement his announced tariff hike when he takes office.

“When Donald Trump makes statements like that, he intends to follow through,” Trudeau told reporters on Prince Edward Island. “There is no doubt about it,” he added.

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In Canada, some believe and hope that Donald Trump's statement Monday on customs duties that would increase to 25% in January is only a negotiating tactic.

Dependence on exports to the United States

This announcement by Donald Trump is a new thorn in the side of the liberal politician. A candidate for re-election in a few months, Justin Trudeau is far ahead in the polls of his Conservative opponent, Pierre Poilievre.

In 2023, more than three-quarters of Canadian exports in value (592 billion Canadian dollars) went to the United States.

And in terms of jobs, nearly 2 million people in Canada depend on exports, out of a population of about 41 million.

Mr. Trudeau insisted Friday that a 25% tariff on Canadian imports would hurt not only Canadians, but Americans as well.

During Trump’s first term, the United States imposed tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports, to which Ottawa responded by targeting certain products.