Statement on U.S. tariffs imposed today

No one wins in a trade war and the tariffs imposed today by the Trump Administration will hurt workers, farmers and families across North America – especially those in the United States.

Canada, the United States and Mexico have the best trade agreement in the world – one which President Trump negotiated and signed during his first term. Any issues or irritants that may exist can and should be managed within the terms of that agreement, which includes a review clause designed for that very purpose.

Regrettably, the decision to impose tariffs on Canada violates that same agreement and now forces Canada to take retaliatory measures. These measures should be strategic in scope and scale so as not to compound the harm of higher costs on Canadian families.

Over the past month, with the threat of tariffs looming, Canadians have responded with the resolve and urgency that this moment calls for. Individuals have changed their spending habits, businesses have reworked supply chains and political leaders have started to address long-standing domestic barriers to economic growth.

We must stand firm. We must remain focused on ambition and action to make Canada’s economy as strong and resilient as possible.