Ottawa:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a warning on Friday regarding the potential imposition of tariffs by the US, saying “Canada will take an immediate and very strong response.”
“We will continue to do the work and do everything we need to avoid these tariffs, but as I said, as Canadians expect, if the tariffs brought to Canada on Tuesday come to the point, we will be taking an immediate and very strong response,” Trudeau said.
The statement comes amid growing tensions over trade between the two countries. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the flow of illegal drugs to the United States, which are said to come from both Canada and Mexico.
As a result, Trump has decided to move forward by imposing tariffs on both countries from March 4th. Additionally, mutual tariffs are expected to continue fully from April 2nd.
Furthermore, Trudeau said, “The first thing about tariffs is to highlight that our government, and in fact, Team Canada, the Prime Minister, business leaders and community leaders, are all focused on one thing.
“The tariffs that the president talks about next week are focused on the fentanyl crisis that they are facing in the US, but we are also facing in Canada,” he added.
Tackling concerns about fentanyl trafficking to the US, he said, “And now, for months, I have been emphasizing that less than 1% of fentanyl arriving in the US comes from Canada. But I know that 1%, or less than 1%, should decrease. Boundaries and keep Canadians and Americans safe.
“And Canada is not the cause of the US problems,” he added.
Meanwhile, on February 4, the US President said for 30 days that he had suspended tariffs on imports from both countries and secured new commitments from both countries to improve border security. A suspension was introduced after President Trump said he spoke to his counterparts from Mexico and Canada.
“Drugs are still poured into our country at very high and unacceptable levels from Mexico and Canada. Most of these drugs are made in the form of fentanyl and are supplied by China. The distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive poisons has killed more than 100,000 people last year.”
Citing cross-border drug smuggling, Trump vowed to stop or “seriously limit” such drugs, particularly fentanyl.
“Millions of people have died over the past 20 years. The families of the victims are devastated and in many cases virtually destroy. This tragedy cannot allow us to continue to hurt the United States.
Additionally, China will be charged an additional 10% tariff from March 4th.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published by Syndicate Feed.)
