Canada's finance minister cited President-elect Trump's tariff threat in his resignation letter dated Monday.
“Our country faces significant challenges today” Chrystia Freeland stated in the letter addressed to To Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “The incoming U.S. administration is pursuing aggressive economic nationalist policies, including threats to impose 25% tariffs.”
“We need to take that threat very seriously,” she added. “That means keeping today's fiscal fireworks dry and preserving the reserves that may be needed for the coming tariff war. It means avoiding expensive political gimmicks that make people doubt that we recognize the gravity of this moment.”
The president-elect said in a post on Truth Social last month that he would impose a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican products, while imposing an additional 10% tariff on Chinese products.
Trump said the tariffs are aimed at putting pressure on countries to step up efforts to secure their borders and combat fentanyl exports to the United States.
“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to simply resolve this long-smoldering issue. We hereby demand that they use this power, and that they Until they do, it's time for them to pay a very high price!'' President Trump said on Truth Social.
Last week, President Trump mocked Prime Minister Trudeau in a post on Truth Social, calling him the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”
“We will counter 'America First' economic nationalism with a determined effort to fight for capital and investment, and the jobs they bring,” Freeland said in the letter.
“That means working honestly and humbly with the premiers of the provinces and territories of this great, diverse country to build a truly Team Canada response,” she added.
The Hill has reached out to Prime Minister Trudeau's office and Trump's transition team for comment.
