The Facts
Trump announced on Monday his intention to implement a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico through an executive order on his first day in office, citing concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking across borders.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly promised to tighten Canada-US border control. US President-elect Donald Trump had warned of huge tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa curbed illegal border crossings and drug trade.
Canada exports approximately $423 billion USD worth of goods to the United States annually, with more than three-quarters of Canadian exports going to the US market and nearly two million Canadian jobs dependent on this trade relationship.Canada’s ambassador to the US Kirsten Hillman said Trudeau convinced Trump and his key aides it was unfair to lump Canada with Mexico. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc promised a “visible and muscular way” of border control.
The Spin
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The proposed tariffs would not only harm Canadian workers and industries but would also raise prices for American consumers and hurt American businesses, while potentially violating existing trade agreements and damaging the strong economic partnership between the two nations.
