Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau will be meeting with premiers from across the country to discuss Canada-US relations after President-elect Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
Trump said on Monday that on his first day back in the White House he intends to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the US from Canada and Mexico.
Trudeau spoke on the phone with Trump regarding the potential tariffs on Tuesday, noting “it was a good call.”
He told reporters they “obviously talked about laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth.”
Canadian premiers pushed for an urgent meeting with the prime minister following Trump’s tariff threat on Monday.
"As we look to welcome the incoming US administration, it is important that we act now to work together and seize this opportunity to grow and strengthen our historic partnership with the US" the premiers' letter reads.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office confirmed a virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday evening.
Trump’s proposed tariff was attributed to concerns regarding the nation’s border with Canada and Mexico.
"This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday.
"Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!"
Ontario premier Doug Ford told reporters on Tuesday morning that it was “insulting” Trump compared Canada to Mexico.
"We're the closest allies the Americans have," he said. He likened the move to “a family member stabbing you right in the heart."
He added that he expects Canada to retaliate should the Trump administration follow through with the tariff.