Trudeau Says US-Canada Trade War Will Continue, Bessent Calls Him a ‘Numbskull’ – Reuters Reports
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the trade war with the United States will continue for the foreseeable future, according to Reuters.
This comes after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Trudeau a “numbskull” for Canada’s decision to retaliate against U.S. tariffs.
Reuters reports that the U.S. plans to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, and Canada has already responded with 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that Canada will keep these tariffs in place until the U.S. removes its trade measures.
Bessent, speaking at an event in New York, criticized Trudeau’s approach, saying, “If you want to be a numbskull like Justin Trudeau and say ‘Oh we’re going to do this,’ then tariffs are going to go up.” Reuters notes that this comment reflects the tension between the two countries over trade policies.
Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump had a 50-minute phone call on Wednesday to discuss the issue. According to Reuters, Trudeau described the call as “colorful” but said no agreements were reached yet. He emphasized that Canada is trying to protect its industries from the impact of the tariffs.
Reuters also highlights that Canada is considering delaying a second round of tariffs on $125 billion worth of U.S. goods, which are set to take effect soon.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has temporarily exempted Canadian automakers from tariffs, as long as they follow existing trade rules.
Trudeau, who is stepping down as prime minister this Sunday, has had a rocky relationship with Trump. Reuters reports that Trudeau took a subtle jab at Trump, suggesting that in international trade, a “win-win” outcome is better than a “win-lose” approach, which might work in real estate but not in global relations.
For more details on this story, visit Reuters’ website.