Ottawa/CMEDIA: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly warned U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of an international summit in Paris that punishing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum will hurt his home state of Ohio.
A threat from the Trump administration to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from its biggest supplier, Canada, would be effective March 12
“Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum would be entirely unjustified,” Trudeau told reporters at the summit. “We are the [U.S.’s] closest ally. Our economies are integrated.”
Trump said on Monday that “without exceptions or exemptions” the tariffs would be imposed on steel and aluminum from all countries.
While working with the Trump administration over the coming weeks, Trudeau said he would make sure to highlight the impact the levies would have on both the U.S. and Canada.
Although Trudeau didn’t announce specific retaliatory measures on Tuesday, his government has warned that a trade war could drive up consumer prices and hurt the economy south of the border.
Vance didn’t respond to Canadian media’s questions about the tariffs while arriving at the summit on Tuesday.
Trudeau said he is also travelling to Brussels on Wednesday to meet with European Union leaders and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and working with international leaders to coordinate a response.
