Hold onto your maple syrup, folks! 🍁 In a major turn of events, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday that Canada is hitting back with a whopping 25% tariff on C$155 billion (that's about $106.5 billion USD) worth of U.S. goods. 😱
Starting this Tuesday, C$30 billion in tariffs will come into effect, with the remaining C$125 billion rolling out over the next 21 days. This bold move comes as a direct response to U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order imposing 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico, starting the same day. The only exception? Canadian energy products, which will face a 10% duty.
Trudeau warned that the next few weeks are going to be tough for Canadians, but emphasized that Trump's tariffs would also sting Americans. Speaking directly to our neighbors down south, he said, \"They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery store, gas at the pump. They will impede your access to an affordable supply of vital goods.\"
What's on the tariff list? American beer, wine, and bourbon 🍺🍷🥃 are taking a hit, along with fruits and fruit juices—including orange juice from Trump's home state of Florida! 🍊 Canada is also targeting clothing, sports equipment, and household appliances.
But that's not all. Trudeau mentioned that Canada is considering non-tariff measures too, potentially affecting critical minerals, energy procurement, and other partnerships.
In a rallying call, Trudeau encouraged Canadians to support local businesses and even suggested vacationing at home instead of venturing to the U.S. \"We didn't ask for this but we will not back down,\" he asserted.
Looks like the trade game just got a whole lot more interesting! Stay tuned as we navigate these turbulent times together. 🌐
Reference(s):
Trudeau announces 25 percent tariffs in response to Trump order
cgtn.com
