Trudeau appears on CNN to make the case against tariffs to an American audience

For the first time since US President-elect Donald Trump threatened heavy tariffs on Canadian goods, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his case against import taxes directly to the American public.

Trudeau told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview Thursday afternoon that a 25 percent tariff on Canadian products would hurt both countries.

“We have so many resources in Canada — more than our market can support — so we’re exporting them to our closest friend who can rely on them. It’s a win-win,” he said.

In the first interview Trudeau has given since announcing earlier this week that he is stepping down as prime minister, Tapper asked Trudeau about Trump’s recent comments that Canada should become the 51st country.

“That’s not going to happen. Canadians are incredibly proud to be Canadian. One of the easiest ways to define ourselves is, ‘Well, we’re not Americans,'” the prime minister said.

Trudeau said he believed Trump’s comments were intended to distract from the expected economic consequences of the tariffs if the president-elect followed through on his threat.

“Everything that American consumers buy from Canada is going to suddenly become a lot more expensive and that’s something we have to focus on a little bit more,” he said.

It’s Ottawa preparing a list of hundreds of American-made goods — including steel, plastics and orange juice — on which Canada is considering retaliatory tariffs, according to a senior Canadian government source.

Trudeau told Tapper that the government was preparing to strike back if Trump followed through on his threat of tariffs, as Canada did this during his previous administration.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister was in Washington for the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. Trump was also in attendance, but the two did not speak. Speaking briefly to reporters, Trudeau repeated most of what he said on CNN and did not take questions.

While this is Trudeau’s first appearance on a US television network since Trump issued his threat of tariffs, some of Canada’s premiers — notably Doug Ford of Ontario and Danielle Smith of Alberta — have appeared in recent weeks to make the case against the tariffs.

Poilievre lays out his plan to deal with Trump’s threats

Just moments before Trudeau’s interview, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a campaign-style press conference to outline how he would counter Trump’s threats.

Among the points he made in his prepared remarks, Poilievre said he would offer more energy to boost the U.S. tech industry, lower taxes to encourage investment in Canada and make the economy “more independent and less vulnerable to threats from abroad.”

“We will stand up and we will state clearly that Canada is a sovereign and independent country – that we will protect our integrity as a nation with force,” he said.

Poilievre also vowed to take the case against the tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders.

“We should go to American workers in the Midwest and their union and business leaders and say, ‘How many jobs are you willing to lose by slapping tariffs on Canadian energy?'” he said.

While answering questions from reporters, Poilievre was asked if he has or plans to talk to the Americans to make his case against the tariffs.

“Look, I’m not the prime minister. I respectfully ask the Canadian people to serve them in that role,” he replied.

Poilievre – who has a substantial lead over the Liberals in the polls – called on Trudeau to call an election immediately.

“I need a mandate, a mandate to put my country first, to do that for Americans,” he said.

On Thursday, Poilievre spoke to reporters for the first time since Trudeau announced he would step down. The Conservative leader said it didn’t matter who the Liberals chose as their new leader because “they’re just like Justin”.