Justin Trudeau responds after Donald Trump confirmed ‘unjustified’ tariffs on Canada as trade war escalates

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a statement following Donald Trump's confirmation the US will be 'imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports'.

Last month, Donald Trump signed off on an order imposing 'catastrophic' tariffs to 'hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US' by placing 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on China.

The only 'solution' for Canada to avoid the tariff according to the 47th President of the US? For Canada to 'become [the US'] Cherished 51st State'.

On March 3, Trudeau released a statement online about the 'unjustified US tariffs against Canada'.

The statement reads: "Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions."

When Trump first announced the order, an announcement released by the White House stated the tariffs are part of Trump 'taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country'.

"There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans," the order claimed. "Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years."

Responding directly to this, Trudeau's statement argues 'less than one percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada' and the country has 'worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike'.

Donald Trump signed off on an order imposing higher tariffs on countries including China and Canada (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more co-ordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. We appointed a Fentanyl Czar, listed transnational criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, launched the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell, and are establishing a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force on organized crime," the statement continues. "Because of this work – in partnership with the United States – fentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97 per cent between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection."

The statement vows Canada will 'not let this unjustified decision go unanswered' and should the tariffs 'come into effect tonight' the country will be responding with its own '25 percent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods' 'effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow'.

Justin Trudeau has released a statement (Katherine KY Cheng/Getty Images))

The tariffs being imposed by Canada on the US will begin with 'tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time,' Trudeau warns.

And the tariffs will 'remain in place' until 'the US trade action is withdrawn'.

Should Trump not backtrack on the order?

Well, Trudeau reveals Canada is 'in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures'.

He resolves: "While we urge the US administration to reconsider their tariffs, Canada remains firm in standing up for our economy, our jobs, our workers, and for a fair deal.

"Because of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs. Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term."

UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.