Canada's prime minister says he's ready to respond strongly to US duties

Canada has an equal, strong and reasonable response to the introduction of duties by U.S. President Donald Trump on February 1. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on January 31.

"If President [Trump] decides to impose any duties against Canada, we have a response ready - a targeted, strong, but reasonable and immediate response," the Prime Minister said.

He specified that the Canadian side does not want to introduce retaliatory measures against the U.S., at the same time, if the U.S. side "takes that step," Canada will be forced to act.

Also according to Trudeau, Canada has already responded to the US concerns, which the American president used to motivate the announcement of the tariff increase. The prime minister noted that no more than 1 percent of fentanyl and illegal aliens are now entering the U.S. through the northern border.

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Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% duties on imports of goods from Canada and Mexico from February 1, but the tariffs may increase.

Before that, on January 25, the American leader called Canada a country dependent on the States and said it could not be a separate state. He promised Canada "serious" tax breaks and no trade duties if it agreed to become America's 51st state.

In December 2024, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government was prepared to defend national interests over Trump's statements that the country could become an "American state."