Trudeau says call with Trump was ‘colourful’ and warns trade war will continue for ‘foreseeable future’ | CBC News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that his phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump was “colourful” with moments of tension as the two hashed out how to bring the American-led trade war to an end.
Trudeau said negotiations are ongoing to secure some form of tariff relief for certain sectors, but warned there’s no sign that Trump is willing to drop his levies entirely and it’s likely a trade dispute will continue “for the foreseeable future.”
Trudeau said there are ongoing discussions to have all of the tariffs dropped until April 2, when Trump is expected to impose another layer of retaliatory tariffs on all countries he claims are ripping off the U.S. But those talks have not been finalized and Trudeau said he was reluctant to comment until there is something concrete to announce.
The prime minister acknowledged that the 50-minute conversation between the two men on Wednesday was heated but said it was a “substantive” call, and that there could be a resolution to these issues, at least in the short term.
But Trudeau said over the longer term, Trump seems committed to tariffs.
“We will continue to be in a trade war that was launched for the U.S. for the foreseeable future,” he said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking at a child-care announcement on Thursday in Ottawa, was asked to describe his recent call with U.S. President Donald Trump about tariffs. Trudeau, who didn’t provide specifics, stressed that conversations are ongoing and reiterated that Canada is focusing on how to help people cope while the levies are in place.
Howard Lutnick, Trump’s commerce secretary, told CNBC on Thursday morning that the president is weighing dropping all Canadian and Mexican tariffs until next month.
Lutnick made those comments as stock market indices were plunging again today amid mounting investor fears Trump could throw the economy off the rails with his trade actions.
WATCH | Canadian officials remain defiant over U.S. tariffs:
Trudeau said Canada will hold firm and push ahead with retaliatory tariffs and other measures until Trump backs off entirely.
Canada has a strong hand to play in these negotiations — the U.S. needs the products the country sells and there’s tremendous resolve in Canada to hold firm in the face of Trump’s aggression, he said.
“We are in a moment right now where Canada has a very, very strong bargaining position, because Canadians are so united and unequivocal about standing up for our country and standing up for our fellow citizens and being very firm that this is an unjustified and unjustifiable trade war launched by the Americans,” he said.
