President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports are set to take effect Tuesday and Canadians are sharing their concerns online.
On Saturday, Trump put his tariff threat into action and added a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products, according to multiple media reports. The tariffs are set to take effect on Tuesday remain until Trump is satisfied Canada is doing enough to stop the flow fentanyl from entering the U.S., reports say.
Canada is set to implement retaliatory tariffs and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make an announcement about this later today.
Trump’s tariffs could halt the flow of many goods across the U.S.-Canada border with major impacts for businesses and workers on both sides of the border.
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt squandered previous reports that the tariffs could be delayed until March 1.
“I saw that report and it is false, I was just with the president in the Oval Office and I can confirm that tomorrow, the February 1st deadline that the president put into place in a statement several weeks ago, continues,” she told reporters.
Leavitt says the duties, which include 25 per cent tariffs on both Canadian and Mexican imports, are in response to “the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans.”
”…These are promises made and promises kept by the president,” she continued.
Leavitt did not provide an update on goods that could be exempt from the tariffs, but said the details would be for “public consumption” today.
Shortly after the announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X on Friday that “no one — on either side of the border — wants to see American tariffs on Canadian goods.”
“I met with our Canada-U.S. Council today. We’re working hard to prevent these tariffs, but if the United States moves ahead, Canada’s ready with a forceful and immediate response,” he added.
Similarly, Ontario premier Doug Ford wrote that he would protect Ontarians in the face of Trump’s tariffs.
“We’re doubling down on our plan to build to protect Ontario workers,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Canadians have been sharing their two cents.
“Or you could just secure your border!!!,” one person wrote in response to Trudeau’s comments.
“We stand united against tariffs that harm our mutual interests. Canada is prepared to respond decisively if necessary,” another person wrote.
“Nothing like a good ol’ last minute scramble,” someone else said.
Tariffs are taxes put on goods produced abroad, including imported energy, which could trickle down to consumers and businesses, who will be forced to pay more for items such as groceries and gas.
“Tariffs affect spending, trade flows, government revenue, exchange rates, employment, gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation. They could substantially disrupt supply chains in Canada, the United States and elsewhere around the world,” according to the Bank of Canada.
