Canada will hit back at the United States with 25 percent tariffs on C$30 billion of U.S goods as of Tuesday, and could follow up with a further C$125 billion in three weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday night.
Trudeau was speaking after a meeting with provincial and territorial premiers. He said he’s been trying to talk to Trump since his inauguration but has not connected.
British Columbia Premiere David Eby announced he has directed the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch to immediately stop purchasing American liquor from Republican-led “red states” and remove the top-selling brands from public liquor store shelves. He also directed B.C. government and Crown corporations on Saturday to buy Canadian goods and services over American ones.
Eby also said he is particularly concerned about the impact of the tariffs on B.C.’s forestry sector, which is already struggling with mill closures and job losses. He warned the new trade barriers would not only hurt B.C. workers, but also drive up housing costs in the U.S.
“One out of every five to six lumber used in the U.S. comes from Canada, and it just got 25 per cent more expensive,” he said.
According to Canadian reports, several domestic groups were suspected in playing a role in the Canadian fentanyl market, “with the majority operating in British Columbia as producers and distributors.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show the agency seized 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl at the Canadian border last year, compared to a whopping 9,592 kilograms at the Mexican one.
Eby said, “We welcome U.S support in stopping the flow of fentanyl, drug precursors and organized crime from China and Mexico.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Ottawa intends to impose tariffs on an additional list of imported U.S. goods after a 21-day public comment period — “products such as passenger vehicles and trucks, including electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, aerospace products, beef, pork, dairy, trucks and buses, recreational vehicles, and recreational boats.”
Even Canada’s Conservative Party leader stood against Trump tariffs.
