Chicago Construction News staff writer
President Donald Trump said Monday he will go forward with a 25 per cent tariff on most imports from Canada next week, saying the country has “ripped off the U.S. for too long and it’s time to put a stop to it.”
The White House has previously said steel and aluminum levies are set to take effect on March 12 — and will be stacked on top of the 25 per cent tariff on Canada.Speaking to reporters at a White House news conference, Trump said work to implement those tariffs is “moving along very rapidly.”
“The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule. This is an abuse that took place for many, many years. The tariffs will go forward, yes, and we’re going to make up a lot of territory,” Trump said.
Earlier this month, Trump threatened to levy a devastating 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods — except energy, which would be levied at 10 per cent — going so far as to draw up an executive order to implement the regime.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada will hit back at the U.S. if Trump moves ahead with the tariffs.
She says part a current visit overseas has been focused on sharing those tactics with European countries should they need to respond.
Now, Trump signalled that a pause will be lifted around March 4 as planned despite improvement at the border with the number of migrants apprehended and the quantity of drugs seized plummeting.
“Our country will be extremely liquid and rich again,” Trump said.
According to Joly, Canada will slap retaliatory tariffs on up to $155 billion worth of American goods.
“We need to stand strong and send a clear message that Canadians will fight back,” Joly said. “We need to be able to deal with the unpredictability of President Trump.”
