Trudeau says ‘no question’ Trump is serious on tariff threat

'One of the things that is really important to understand is that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out,' Justin Trudeau said.

As Canada braces for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods threatened by incoming U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that threat should be taken seriously.

Trump sent shockwaves earlier this week when he announced that he plans to sign an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico once he comes into office.

Trump has said the tariffs will remain in place until both countries stop drugs, in particular fentanyl, and people from illegally crossing the borders.

As uncertainty and concern looms over the potential impact this could have on Canadian industries, Trudeau warned Friday that there is “no question” that Trump plans on seeing this measure through.

“One of the things that is really important to understand is that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out,” Trudeau told reporters in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. “There’s no question about it.

“Our responsibility is to point out that, in this way, he would be actually not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, he’d actually be raising prices for American citizens as well and hurting American industry and businesses.”

Trudeau reiterated that a “Team Canada approach” is going to be vital in the face of Trump’s tariff threat.

Two days after Trump’s announcement, Trudeau held a virtual meeting Wednesday with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss U.S.-Canada relations.