Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs as “totally unacceptable” and announced retaliatory tariffs on CAD 16.6b in US imports. A 15-day consultation period immediately began the tariffs will come into effect on July 1. There are two list of goods, one list that will be subject to a 25% tariff; a second list that will be subject to a 10% tariff. The details of the goods can be found here.
Trudeau emphasized that “Americans remain our partners, our allies and our friends” and “the American people are not the target” of the retaliation measures. He pledged to continue to make arguments based on logic and common sense” and hoped that “eventually they will prevail against an administration that doesn’t always align itself around those principles.”
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, also said that the unilateral trade restrictions by the US are “in violation of NAFTA and WTO trade rules”. And Canada will launch dispute settlement proceedings under NAFTA Chapter 20 and WTO Dispute Settlement. Freeland also pledged to “closely collaborate with like-minded WTO members, including the European Union” to challenge the “illegal and counterproductive US measures at the WTO. Statement can be found here.
