PARIS, France – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose new 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, calling the move “entirely unjustified” and “unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters at sunrise in Paris, Trudeau emphasized that his government will engage with U.S. officials to highlight the harmful economic consequences of the tariffs before they take effect. However, he made it clear that Canada is prepared to respond if necessary. “We will stand up for Canadian workers. We will stand up for Canadian industries,” he asserted.
The tariffs, announced Monday, mark a reversal of exemptions granted in 2018. Trump justified the decision by citing national security concerns and the need to address global overcapacity affecting the American market. Trudeau rejected this reasoning, pointing to the deeply integrated nature of U.S.-Canada industries, particularly in defense, shipbuilding, and automotive manufacturing. “Together we make North America more competitive,” he argued.
While Trudeau did not explicitly commit to retaliatory tariffs, he recalled Canada’s firm response in 2018 during the NAFTA renegotiations. This latest trade dispute comes just a week after both countries agreed to a temporary pause on tariff escalations.
Trudeau, currently in Europe to strengthen Canada-EU trade ties amid economic instability, briefly spoke with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance at the AI Action Summit in Paris. Vance declined to answer questions from Canadian media regarding tariffs and the controversial “51st state” remarks circulating within U.S. political circles.
As Trump’s aggressive trade policies continue to impact global markets, Trudeau indicated that Canada will work closely with other affected allies to counter these economic challenges.
