Trudeau says Trump is trying to distract from cost of tariffs with 51st state remarks
By Canadian Press on January 9, 2025.
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is trying to distract from his threats of stiff tariffs by talking about making Canada the 51st state.
Trudeau made the comments in an interview on CNN late Thursday while in Washington, where he attended the funeral for the late U.S. president Jimmy Carter.
Trudeau says Trump is a skilled negotiator and is attempting to distract from the fact that American consumers will suddenly face higher prices if he goes ahead with his tariff threats.
Trump has said he will slap 25 per cent tariffs on imports immediately, and Trudeau confirmed today that Canada will respond with retaliatory measures as it did in 2018.
Trudeau will huddle with the premiers in Ottawa next Wednesday to talk about Trump’s trade threats in a meeting just days ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20.
A senior official confirms Canada has a draft document listing potential targets for retaliatory tariffs, which could include American steel, ceramics and plastics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2025.
Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
11-10
Trudeau is a lame duck. Who cares what he says.