Read the transcript of Trudeau’s response to U.S. tariffs on Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
Trudeau spoke to media Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing the tariffs.
Trump said in a statement that he has implemented a 25 per cent tariff on imports from both Canada and Mexico, which drops to 10 per cent on Canadian energy, as well as an additional 10 per cent tariff on imports from China.
Canada has been told the tariffs will go into effect on Tuesday.
Here’s the English transcript of Trudeau’s full speech.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Good evening. Today, the United States informed us they will be imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports to the United States and 10 per cent on Canadian energy, a decision that, should they elect to proceed with, should take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Tonight, first I want to speak directly to Americans. Our closest friends and neighbors. This is a choice that, yes, will harm Canadians. But beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people.
As I have consistently said, tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities.
They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery stores and gas at the pump.
They will impede your access to an affordable supply of vital goods crucial for U.S. security, such as nickel, potash, uranium, steel and aluminum.
They will violate the free trade agreement that the president and I, along with our Mexican partner, negotiated and signed a few years ago. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
As President John F. Kennedy said many years ago, geography has made us neighbors. History has made us
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