Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks at a Canada-U.S. relations meeting at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

By Canadian Press

Trudeau says Canada ‘ready’ for Trump tariffs as ministers make final push in D.C.

Jan 31, 2025 | 7:58 AM

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ready to deliver a “purposeful, forceful but reasonable immediate” response if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian imports.

During an event in Toronto today, Trudeau said that it’s “not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act.”

His comments come as three federal cabinet ministers are in Washington making a last-ditch attempt to stop Trump from slapping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports as early as Saturday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are all in the U.S. capital making a final diplomatic push to convince Republican lawmakers and Trump’s team to sway the president.

Trump initially claimed his tariff threat was in response to a failure by Canada and Mexico to curb the illegal flow of people and drugs across the border.

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Trudeau today tried to reassure Canadians while acknowledging Canada “could be facing difficult times in the coming days and weeks.”

“I won’t sugarcoat it,” he said.

Trudeau said he knows Canadians “might be anxious and worried, but I want them to know the federal government, and indeed all orders of government, have their backs.”

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc sent a video Thursday describing Canada’s border security efforts to Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary.

Trudeau said Friday Canada has responded to Trump’s concerns with a $1.3 billion border security plan.

“In fact, the first patrol helicopters began monitoring the border earlier this week, and new canine teams, along with imaging tools, are being deployed to detect and stop the flow of fentanyl,” he said.

He noted less than one per cent of fentanyl and illegal crossings into the United States come from Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025.