Official announcements from the Canadian government or major news outlets

Trudeau Supports Dollar-for-Dollar Tariffs Against U.S., 82% of Canadians Agree, Amid Calls for Election

Jan 21, 2025, 02:40 PM

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed support for imposing retaliatory tariffs on the United States on a dollar-for-dollar basis if President Donald Trump implements a proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods starting February 1st. Trudeau's stance comes in response to Trump's threat, which he mentioned during a news conference in Montebello, Quebec. Trudeau emphasized that while his focus is on avoiding tariffs, Canada is prepared to respond robustly and rapidly if necessary. He cited the example of switching products to domestic ones, such as from Heinz’ ketchup to French’s, as a potential impact on Canadian consumers. Trudeau also mentioned that the federal government would be there to support and compensate businesses affected by these tariffs. Public opinion in Canada strongly favors retaliation, with an Ipsos/Global poll indicating that 82% of Canadians support matching tariffs against the U.S. if Trump's tariffs are enacted. Additionally, there is a significant public demand for an immediate federal election, with 77% of Canadians wanting to give the next government a strong mandate to deal with Trump's tariff threats, according to another Ipsos poll.