Canada will respond immediately and forcefully if the United States goes ahead with a threat to impose tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday (January 31), warning Canadians that they could be facing tough times, Reuters reports.
President Donald Trump has set a Saturday (February 1) deadline to slap a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. He says he wants stronger action to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States.
Trudeau, speaking to an advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations, said the country was at a critical moment, and that Canada is ready with a "purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response."
Canada sends 75% of all its goods and services exports to the United States and the economy would be badly hit by Trump's promised tariffs.
