U.S. President Donald Trump said Canada’s efforts to tighten security at the border are “not good enough,” a day after triggering a North American trade war.
Trump spoke to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday and the two leaders discussed “trade and fentanyl,” according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Both countries will continue to be in contact today,” the readout adds.
All eyes are on Washington after Trump slapped a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods.
Trump said in a post Wednesday on his Truth Social platform that Trudeau called to ask him what can be done about the tariffs.
“I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped,” Trump wrote.
“He said that it’s gotten better, but I said, ‘That’s not good enough.’ The call ended in a ‘somewhat’ friendly manner!”
Trump went on to write in another post he told Trudeau that he largely caused the problems the U.S. has with Canada because of his “weak border policies.”
In response to the U.S. tariffs, Canada is imposing an immediate 25 per cent tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods, with additional tariffs on another $125 billion in American goods to follow three weeks later.
Trump has repeatedly cited the flow of fentanyl as the reason for imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico. At a press conference on Tuesday, Trudeau said that excuse was “completely bogus.”
“So we actually have to fold back on the one thing he has said repeatedly — that what he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy, because that will make it easier to annex us, is the second half of his thought.”
Trudeau met with premiers virtually on Tuesday to discuss the “unjustified” tariffs and Canada’s response, according to a readout from his office.
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“The Prime Minister and the premiers denounced the U.S.’ decision to impose unjustified tariffs and committed to stand united against this economic threat,” the readout said.
“They underscored that tariffs would weaken both of our countries, put thousands of good-paying jobs at risk, and make life less affordable for both Canadians and Americans alike.”
Canadian provinces have swiftly responded to the U.S. tariffs, announcing a range of retaliatory measures on Tuesday.
According to the PMO, Ottawa will soon announce an initial support package to reduce the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian workers, families and businesses.
“First Ministers also discussed progress to reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility within Canada,” the readout said.
Meanwhile, Ottawa has requested consultations with Washington on Trump’s tariffs at the World Trade Organization, Canada’s ambassador to the WTO in Geneva said.
“The U.S. decision leaves us with no choice but to respond to protect Canadian interests,” Ambassador Nadia Theodore said in a statement posted on LinkedIn.
Business groups in Canada have raised concerns about the impact of the trade war and economists are warning that the Canadian economy is poised to plunge into a recession this year if the U.S. tariffs remain in place.
“No one wins in a trade war and the tariffs imposed today by the Trump Administration will hurt workers, farmers and families across North America — especially those in the United States,” Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, said in a statement Tuesday.
Liberal MP John McKay, co-chair of the Canada-U.S. interparliamentary group, is in Washington, D.C., meeting with lawmakers Wednesday.
In an interview with Motorcycle accident toronto today, McKay said: “It’s very difficult to know how to move forward” on the tariff tensions.
“It is .. a function of, ‘You poke me in the eye, then I poke you in the eye,’ and then back and forth, and we both end up blind,” he said.
“It doesn’t make any sense. And indeed, even with the Republicans, they can’t give you a coherent explanation of what Mr. Trump is trying to do.”
The U.S. move has angered many Canadians, with “elbows up” becoming a rallying cry online and on the streets.
Tariff tensions have also given rise to a “buy Canadian” movement in recent weeks, with consumers ditching U.S. products for local ones and businesses giving more prominence to local options.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she is expecting to speak with Trump on Thursday, but said on Wednesday if tariffs continue following that call, Mexico “will reach out to Canada and other nations.”
“It is a very definitive moment for Mexico,” Sheinbaum said. “Our economy is fine, but there will be no submission. … Depending on the circumstances, we will look to Canada and other countries.”
Trump may announce a deal on Wednesday with the two countries and meet them “in the middle,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Tuesday.
“Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do better, and the president is listening because he’s very, very fair and very reasonable,” Lutnick said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.
“So I think he’s going to work something out with them.
“It’s not going to be a pause. None of that pause stuff. But I think he’s going to figure out, ‘You do more, and I’ll meet you in the middle someway,’ and we’re going to probably be announcing that tomorrow.”
— with files from Reuters, Motorcycle accident toronto today’ Mercedes Stephenson, Bryan Mullan and Sean Boynton
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