Natural resources Donald Trump will need Canada for his ‘golden age’, says Justin Trudeau

(Montebello) U.S. President Donald Trump is promising a new era of prosperity for the United States. But he won’t be able to deliver on that promise without Canada’s precious natural resources, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The choice for the President of the United States is therefore simple. He will have to put aside his threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products as of February 1 , as he mentioned when he signed presidential orders on Monday evening. Otherwise, the United States could have to do without steel, oil and critical minerals from Canada and turn to authoritarian regimes like China, Russia and Venezuela for supplies, the prime minister suggested.

On the second day of his cabinet retreat, which is focusing on Canada-U.S. relations, Justin Trudeau reaffirmed that “everything is on the table” when it comes to Canada’s response and that he also supports a “dollar for dollar” response to potential U.S. tariffs.

“President Trump has said he wants to usher in a golden age for America. That will require more steel and aluminum, more essential minerals, and more reliable and affordable energy. More of everything to keep the American economy running at full capacity,” Trudeau said at a news conference.

Trudeau, who was responding to the president’s remarks for the first time since he was formally installed in office, noted that Canadian energy powers American manufacturing, businesses and homes. And he also noted that Canada buys more American-made goods than China, Japan and Germany combined.

“Our trade relationship with the United States is a win-win situation. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to demonstrate this,” said the Prime Minister, recalling in passing the numerous visits made by some of his ministers to Washington and other American states to plead Canada’s cause.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is due to travel to the American capital next week to meet her new counterpart, Marco Rubio, who was recently confirmed in his role.

“But if the president chooses to impose tariffs on Canadian products, Canada will respond. And everything is on the table,” the Prime Minister warned again.

The Trudeau government and the provinces have been working for several weeks on retaliatory measures in the event that the Trump administration imposes tariffs.

Ottawa and the provinces have agreed to a tariff response targeting between $35 billion and $40 billion worth of American products. This first wave could be implemented in the near future. It would aim to limit, as much as possible, unduly penalizing Canadian consumers.

Orange juice, toiletry bags and some steel products are among the U.S. products that could be hit with tariffs.

Canada’s second response could affect $110 billion in U.S. goods if Washington refuses to back down.

In a press briefing, Justin Trudeau maintained that Donald Trump “is a skilled negotiator,” who sometimes makes contradictory statements about, for example, the date of tariff imposition, simply to destabilize his interlocutor. “But if there are unfair tariffs, we will respond robustly. And we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests.”