A threat by US President-elect Donald Trump to tax imports from America’s three biggest trade partners has caused concern in one of the countries affected, Canada.
He has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from America’s northern neighbour – while also targeting Mexico and China. He described it as an attempt to tackle illegal migration and drug-smuggling to the US.
Doug Ford, the leader of Ontario province, was among those who criticised the move, which he described as “devastating”.
The official Canadian response has been more muted. CBC reported there had been a flurry of late-night calls between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump, and between the PM and province leaders.
“It was a good discussion and they will stay in touch,” a Canadian source said of the call between Trudeau-Trump call, as reported by Reuters.
In a public statement, Canadian ministers emphasised their work on the shared border – on which they said they placed the “highest priority”.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc also used their statement to stress the importance of the US-Canada trading partnership, saying 60% of last year’s US crude oil imports originated in Canada.
America’s northern neighbour accounted for some US$437bn (£347bn) of US imports in 2022, and was the largest market for US exports in the same year, according to US data.
