Donald Trump took a jab at Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister said Americans “are beginning to wake up to the reality” of the president-elect’s plan to tax Canadian goods.
Trump has promised to sign an executive order on his first day in office imposing 25 percent tariffs on goods arriving from Canada and Mexico, supposedly in response to drugs and illegal migrant crossings.
During an event Monday, Trudeau acknowledged the tariffs would be “devastating” for the Canadian economy but pointed out they would wreak havoc on the U.S. too, as the taxes would be paid by American companies that would then pass on the costs to buyers.
“Americans import 65 percent of their crude oil from Canada,” he said, along with “significant amounts” of electricity, natural gas, steel, aluminum, and agricultural products. “All of those things would get more expensive.”
Trump apparently did not appreciate Trudeau’s comments.
“It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,” he wrote on Truth Social, apparently referring to his joke about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state a recent dinner at Mar-a-Lago.
“I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!” Trump added.
Trudeau promised on Monday to retaliate if Trump goes through with the proposed tariffs. But considering analysts predict the move would cause gas prices to immediately jump by 30 cents per gallon in the Midwest, the market might just do Trudeau’s job for him.
