Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued that President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda works best when the United States’s neighboring countries, Canada and Mexico, also benefit.
Canada and the U.S. have been butting heads in the wake of Trump’s inauguration. The countries have been arguing back and forth on tariffs and trade. Amid the disagreement, Trudeau argued that the recent tariffs implemented by the Trump administration would ultimately hurt workers and businesses in the U.S. and that the U.S. and Canada “should work together instead.”
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“We do see, however, that President Trump’s approach has consistently been ‘America First,’ and the big argument that we have to continue to make is that America First happens best when Canadians and Mexicans are prospering as well,” Trudeau said. “A win-lose between us would actually be worse for them than a win-win.”
The Canadian prime minister also stated that he plans to focus on reducing the effect of the U.S.’s tariffs on his country, adding that the “trade war” that Canada is in with the U.S. will continue “for the foreseeable future.” Earlier this week, Canada issued retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S., claiming “there is no justification” for the U.S. to issue tariffs on its neighbor.
“The focus we have right now is on reducing the impacts of the tariffs. I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war that was launched by the United States for the foreseeable future," says PM Trudeau as he comments on yesterday’s talks with President Trump.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Q28sI9p32h
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) March 6, 2025
Following the 25% tariffs the U.S. and Canada have placed on each other, Trump has hinted that even more tariffs could be implemented by the U.S., writing on Truth Social that any tariffs implemented by Trudeau will see reciprocal tariffs “immediately increase by a like amount.”
TRUMP NEEDS A CLEARER TARIFF STRATEGY
Trump has also speculated that Trudeau is aiming to utilize the tariff drama to seek another term as prime minister, even though the Canadian prime minister announced at the start of this year he would be stepping down. The president added that Trudeau has done “a terrible job” as the country’s leader.
While the tariff conflict with Canada is ongoing, Trump announced Thursday that the U.S.’s tariffs on Mexico have been placed on hold until April 2. Trump said he did this “out of respect” for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and thanked her for her contributions to securing the southern border.