Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he expects the trade war with the United States will continue for the “foreseeable future.”
The comments come after a Wednesday evening phone call between Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I can confirm that it was a colourful call and it was also a very substantive call,” Trudeau told reporters on Thursday.
“We talked about a range of issues, of course, primarily the trade war that they have chosen to unjustly launch on Canada.
“But there was also a recognition that our two countries are deeply interwoven, not just in our economy but in our people-to-people ties and our history.”
Trump launched 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods on Tuesday, prompting Canada to fire back with 25 per cent tariffs of its own.
In the days since, the U.S. president has granted a one-month tariff exemption for automakers.
“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,” said Trudeau.
“We are trying to reduce the areas and the impact that these tariffs that the Americans are bringing in will have on Canadian workers.
“But Canada will continue to stand firm and unequivocally that as long as there are tariffs on us from the United States that are completely unjustified, we will be responding strongly.”
