Trudeau Claims Trump Ignites Trade War with Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of launching an economic assault on Canada through sweeping new tariffs. The 25 percent duties on Canadian imports took effect this week prompting outrage from Ottawa. Trudeau vowed that Canada will not yield pledging a fierce response to protect national interests.

The tariffs target nearly all Canadian goods from lumber to manufactured products with a separate 10 percent levy on energy exports. Trump justified the measures citing border security and drug trafficking concerns particularly fentanyl flows. Canada insists these claims are baseless pointing to recent enforcement successes that slashed seizures by 97 percent.

Trudeau announced immediate retaliatory tariffs on 30 billion dollars worth of U.S. imports with plans to escalate to 155 billion within weeks. He warned that American consumers will bear the brunt facing higher prices for essentials like gas and groceries. The prime minister framed the spat as a betrayal by Canada’s closest ally shattering decades of cooperation.

Tensions flared after Trump suggested Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming the 51st U.S. state a remark Trudeau called absurd. The prime minister argued that the true intent is to cripple Canada’s economy for political leverage. He urged Canadians to rally together emphasizing resilience in the face of what he termed a deliberate attack.

Economists predict severe fallout with potential job losses in Canada’s export-driven sectors like manufacturing and forestry. The U.S. relies heavily on Canadian energy and raw materials meaning disruptions could ripple south as well. Both nations now brace for a protracted trade war that threatens North American stability.

Trudeau has rallied support from provincial leaders who echo his call for unity against Trump’s policies. Canada plans to challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization arguing they violate existing agreements. Diplomatic efforts continue but optimism fades as Trump doubles down on his stance.

The bitter dispute marks a low point in U.S.-Canada relations once a model of partnership. Trudeau stressed that Canada seeks fairness not conflict but will match every escalation. Americans he said should hold their leaders accountable for the chaos now unfolding at the border.

This clash unfolds as Trump pursues an aggressive trade agenda targeting multiple countries including Mexico and China. Canada’s defiance could inspire others to push back against U.S. pressure. For now the continent watches anxiously as two neighbors descend into economic hostility.