Trudeau Blasts Trump Tariffs as Gift to Putin

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denounced U.S. tariffs on Canada as a reckless favor to Russia’s Vladimir Putin igniting a fierce trade row. The 25 percent duties effective Tuesday target Canada’s exports a move Trudeau calls an attack on a loyal ally. He accuses Trump of weakening Western unity while emboldening adversaries amid escalating global tensions.

Trudeau ties the tariffs to Trump’s fentanyl crackdown claims dismissing them as a flimsy pretext. He argues Canada’s robust border security undercuts the U.S. narrative of lax oversight. The prime minister insists the real aim is economic sabotage not drug control.

Retaliatory tariffs on 30 billion dollars of U.S. goods kicked in Tuesday with 125 billion more planned soon. Trudeau warns Americans will face higher costs for essentials like gas and food as a result. He frames the spat as a betrayal of the deep ties binding the two nations.

The U.S. relies on Canada for oil steel and auto parts making the tariffs a self-inflicted wound critics say. Ontario’s premier threatens to cut off electricity exports a drastic step in the feud. Businesses on both sides scramble to adapt as supply chains buckle.

Trudeau’s charge of appeasing Putin taps into fears of Russian influence in Western politics. He contrasts Trump’s tariff war with efforts to counter Moscow’s aggression elsewhere. The rhetoric aims to rally Canadians against what he calls an unjust assault.

Economic fallout looms large with Canada exporting most of its goods to the U.S. market. Job losses in manufacturing and energy sectors could hit hard if the dispute drags on. Analysts predict a recession risk if cooler heads don’t prevail soon.

The prime minister urges Americans to press their leaders to rethink the policy. He highlights shared values and history arguing the tariffs hurt both nations equally. Public support in Canada surges as citizens rally behind Trudeau’s defiant stand.

This clash marks a low ebb in U.S.-Canada relations with echoes of Cold War rivalries. Trudeau’s Putin jab sharpens the stakes in a trade war few saw coming. The path forward hinges on whether diplomacy can outpace the growing hostility.