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MONTEBELLO, QUE. \u2014 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that if President Donald Trump wants to usher in a \u201cgolden age\u201d for the United States, he\u2019ll need the energy, critical minerals and resources that Canada is ready to provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are there to be constructive partners,\u201d Trudeau said in his first public comments since Trump suggested he could impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports within days.<\/p>\n
The federal cabinet is meeting in Montebello, Que., for a retreat focused on the Canada-U. S. trade strategy.<\/p>\n
While Trump had been threatening to impose punishing tariffs on Canada on his first day in office, he opted instead on inauguration day to announce a plan to study alleged unfair trade practices.<\/p>\n
The president signed an executive order directing that the study be completed by April 1.<\/p>\n
But late Monday evening, as he signed that order and other executive orders, Trump said he\u2019s thinking about hitting Canada and Mexico with 25 per cent tariffs on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they are allowing vast numbers of people \u2014 Canada is a very bad abuser also \u2014 vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in,\u201d he told reporters at the White House.<\/p>\n
Trudeau said Canada has been in this situation before with the first Trump administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is always going to be a certain amount of unpredictability and rhetoric coming out from this administration,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trudeau said his government\u2019s focus is still on avoiding tariffs \u2014 but if that effort doesn\u2019t succeed, Canada will respond and \u201ceverything is on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur response will be robust and rapid and measured, but very strong. The goal will be to get those tariffs off as quickly as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n