Trudeau counters Trump tariff: ‘No American wants to pay 25% more for electricity, gas or oil’

Justin Trudeau, the outgoing prime minister of Canada, has urged Americans to think about the negative consequences of the high tariffs that US President-elect Donald Trump has proposed, cautioning that they may harm both workers and consumers.

Trump has threatened to levy 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports and said that the need for such measures may be eliminated if Canada were to become the United States’ “51st State.”

Trudeau dismissed the idea, saying, “The 51st state, that’s not going to happen. But people are talking about that instead of focusing on what a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium coming into the US would mean_._” 

Speaking to MSNBC, Trudeau added, “No American wants to pay 25 per cent more for electricity or oil and gas coming from Canada. This is something people need to take seriously.”

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About 25% of the oil used in the United States comes from Canada, which exports 4.3 million barrels per day, mostly from Alberta.

However, despite statistics from the US Energy Information Administration indicating that the US depends on Canadian oil to satisfy its demand, Trump has asserted that the US does not require oil or other resources from Canada.

Trump’s threats, according to Trudeau, are a component of his negotiating approach. In reference to Trump’s use of economic pressure to demand concessions, Trudeau said, “He likes to keep people off balance.”

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Canadian authorities have threatened to impose duties on American goods including steel, orange juice, and toilets in retaliation if the US proceeds with the tariffs.

This would be similar to what happened during Trump’s first term, when Canada responded to similar trade measures by imposing duties on US items, such as playing cards, Harley-Davidson motorbikes, and bourbon.

Additionally, Trump has connected the tariff threats to border security, implying that he may change his mind if Canada improves its border security.

In response, Trudeau said that fewer than 1% of fentanyl and illegal immigrants come from Canada to the US. However, in response to US concerns, Trudeau proposed more border security investment during a meeting with Trump in November.