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Tariff war: Donald Trump said American had been allowing Canada to send in everything and it had been a “one-way street”
American President Donald Trump has justified his 25% levy on Canadian imports to the US, saying Canada has been “abusive of US for years”.
He then gave a list of reasons to substantiate his statement and said that the United States had been allowing Canada to send in everything and seek help, but it had been a “one-way street”.
🚨🇺🇸 🇨🇦TRUMP: CANADA HAS BEEN VERY ABUSIVE—SOMETHING’S GOING TO HAPPEN“Canada has been very abusive of the United States for many years. They don’t allow our banks.
They don’t allow our farm products in, essentially.
They don’t allow a lot of things in, and we allow… https://t.co/6hpeo5f4nD pic.twitter.com/1qByhZtVLe
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 3, 2025
“They don’t allow a lot of things in, and we allow everything to come in. It’s been a one-way street. We subsidise Canada by the tune of about $200 billion a year. And for what? What do we get out of it?” he told Fox News during an interview.
Canada’s Retaliation
Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs on the US, signaling the start of a trade conflict between the two countries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced “far-reaching” 25% tariffs on $106.6bn worth of American goods, including items like beer, wine, household appliances, and sporting goods.
This move mirrors US President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China, aimed at addressing concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Trudeau emphasised that he would “not back down in standing up for Canadians,” though he acknowledged the potential for significant consequences on both sides of the border.
“We don’t want to be here, we didn’t ask for this,” he stated during a press conference on Saturday.
The Canadian prime minister also noted that tariffs on $30bn of US goods would take effect on Tuesday, with an additional $125bn to follow in 21 days, giving Canadian businesses time to adjust.