Canadian ministers discussing potential retaliation towards US tariffs

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian cupboard ministers will talk about on Friday how they might retaliate if the brand new U.S. administration imposes tariffs on imports from Canada, International Minister Melanie Joly stated.

Canada’s Liberal authorities has repeatedly made clear it would strike again if President-elect Donald Trump goes forward with a risk to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada except Ottawa does extra to spice up border safety.

“We will probably be speaking about retaliatory measures towards potential tariffs from President-elect Trump, and we will probably be prepared,” Joly advised reporters forward of a cupboard committee to debate the matter.

“I believe that when President Trump talks, we pay attention, and we have to take him very severely, and we have to present the American individuals and people and folks round Trump that there will probably be actual penalties.”

The Globe and Mail newspaper on Thursday, citing sources, stated Canada was contemplating tariffs on a slew of U.S. merchandise together with orange juice, ceramic items, some metal merchandise, glassware, and a slew of plastic articles.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday recalled that in a bilateral commerce dispute in 2018, Canada put tariffs on Heinz ketchup, enjoying playing cards, bourbon, and Harley Davidson bikes – “on issues that will damage American staff.”

Joly stated she could be flying to Washington subsequent week for talks with U.S. officers. Trudeau on Thursday met American enterprise leaders and advised them tariffs would increase costs, discourage development and funding, and hit markets.