US President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as both nations braced for the impact of new tariffs on each other’s imports. The details of the call have not come out yet but Trump shared on social media that he has spoken to the Canadian PM once and will again connect with him at 3 pm EST (01.30 am IST).
Earlier, Trump justified the US tariffs by citing concerns over Canadian banking regulations and drug trafficking in a post on his Truth Social platform. However, the White House stated that Canada had “misunderstood” Trump’s executive order, insisting it was not intended as a trade war between the neighboring countries.
Trump on Saturday imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, citing the need to curb the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration into the US. When asked what steps Canada and Mexico must take to have the 25% tariffs lifted, Trump emphasised the need for “balanced trade” and stronger border enforcement. “They have to stop people from pouring into our country and we have to stop fentanyl. And that includes China,” he told reporters.
Trump acknowledged that the tariffs, which take effect Tuesday, could cause short-term economic strain for Americans but argued that, in the long run, the US has been “ripped off by virtually every country in the world”.
(This is a developing story. More details to follow.)