Ottawa: Asserting that the US needs Canadian resources, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that his government is ready to respond and "everything is on the table" if President Donald Trump proceeds with his threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports starting February 1.
The Canadian premier's warning came a day after Trump reiterated his threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico on February 1, while accusing the two neighboring nations of failing to stop illegal immigration and narcotics into the US.
Trudeau said at a press conference on January 21 that his government has already acted to address Trump's concerns with a more than $1 billion comprehensive border plan. "But if the President does choose to proceed with tariffs, Canada will respond and everything is on the table... We are prepared for every possible scenario," he said, adding that "this is an important and challenging moment for Canada and for Canadians".
"President Trump said that he wants to usher in a 'golden age' for the United States. (And) that will require more steel, aluminium, critical minerals, reliable and affordable energy and more of everything to run the US economy full steam ahead. Canada has all those resources," Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday, adding that his nation was a "safe, secure and reliable partner in an uncertain world," Trudeau said.
China vows to safeguard ‘national interest’A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry has said China would protect its "national interests" after US President Donald Trump said that a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports could be imposed from February 1 onwards, AFP reported. "We have always believed that there are no winners in a trade war or a tariff war," spokesperson Mao Ning said, adding that China was "firmly committed to safeguarding national interests". During his conversation with the Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, Trump stated that he didn't discuss tariffs, though he did talk about the dangers of fentanyl. |
