Politics
Canadian Premier Targets ‘Red States’ For Retaliation After Trump Imposes Tariffs
British Columbia Premier David Eby has singled out “red states” for retaliatory measures after President Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on all imports entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and China.
Trump made true on a campaign promise to implement the tariffs if Canada and Mexico failed to curb the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs into the United States. “Today, I have implemented a 25% Tariff on Imports from Mexico and Canada (10% on Canadian Energy), and a 10% additional Tariff on China. This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all. I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.”
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that retaliatory tariffs on the United States will be implemented. In a press conference on Saturday night, Trudeau announced that Canada will enact a 25 percent tariff on U.S. exports by implementing a 25 percent tariff against $155 billion in U.S. goods.
“Like the American tariffs, our response will also be far reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes,” Trudeau said. “It’ll include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more.”
Canadian premiers haver been split over how to best respond to the situation. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have stated that exports of oil and other resources should not be included in any retaliation plans.
“Alberta will do everything in its power to convince the U.S. president and Congress, as well as the American people, to reverse this mutually destructive policy,” Smith wrote in a social media post on Saturday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement that “Trump has chosen to walk away from a trading relationship that for decades has made life better for millions of workers on both sides of the border.”
British Columbia Premier David Eby took things a step further by tailoring the province’s response to target “red states” specifically. “For our first of many steps, effective today, I have directed BC liquor sales to immediately stop buying American liquor from red states. Liquor store employees will be removing the most popular of these brands from government store shelves,” Eby announced in a video statement.
Retaliatory tariffs are unlikely to have much effect on the U.S. considering the massive trade imbalance that exists between both countries.About 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States, while just 12 percent of U.S. imports come from Canada. The numbers are about the same for Mexico, which exports about 80 percent of its goods to the United States, while about 14 percent of U.S. imports come from Mexico.
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