Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a statement following Donald Trump’s confirmation the US will be ‘imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports’.

Last month, Donald Trump signed off on an order imposing ‘catastrophic’ tariffs to ‘hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US’ by placing 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on China.

The only ‘solution’ for Canada to avoid the tariff according to the 47th President of the US? For Canada to ‘become [the US’] Cherished 51st State’.

On March 3, Trudeau released a statement online about the ‘unjustified US tariffs against Canada’.

The statement reads: “Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”

When Trump first announced the order, an announcement released by the White House stated the tariffs are part of Trump ‘taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country’.

“There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans,” the order claimed. “Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years.”

Responding directly to this, Trudeau’s statement argues ‘less than one percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada’ and the country has ‘worked relentlessly to address this scourge that affects Canadians and Americans alike’.

Donald Trump signed off on an order imposing higher tariffs on countries including China and Canada (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“We implemented a $1.3 billion border plan with new choppers, boots on the ground, more co-ordination, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. We appointed a Fentanyl Czar, listed transnational criminal cartels as terrorist organizations, launched the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell, and are establishing a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force on organized crime,” the statement continues. “Because of this work – in partnership with the United States – fentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97 per cent between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

The statement vows Canada will ‘not let this unjustified decision go unanswered’ and should the tariffs ‘come into effect tonight’ the country will be responding with its own ’25 percent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods’ ‘effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow’.

Justin Trudeau has released a statement (Katherine KY Cheng/Getty Images))

The tariffs being imposed by Canada on the US will begin with ‘tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time,’ Trudeau warns.

And the tariffs will ‘remain in place’ until ‘the US trade action is withdrawn’.

Should Trump not backtrack on the order?

Well, Trudeau reveals Canada is ‘in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures’.

He resolves: “While we urge the US administration to reconsider their tariffs, Canada remains firm in standing up for our economy, our jobs, our workers, and for a fair deal.

“Because of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs. Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term.”

UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.

Donald Trump has made an unexpected move involving tariffs amid strong responses from countries such as Canada and Mexico, which have been impacted.

Close to 50 days after the US president returned to the White House for a second term, Trump has certainly brought about a lot of changes.

The 47th POTUS has signed off on many executive orders – which have included halting the ban on TikTok, and declaring that there are ‘only two genders’ among others.

Tariffs have also been a huge talking point, with countries such as Mexico, Canada and China feeling the brunt of it.

Trump has made an unexpected move with tariffs (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

The tariffs have been introduced to tackle what the White House has described as an ‘extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl’.

Essentially, tariffs are taxes imposed on foreign goods, meaning many of these goods will cost more to sell in the US – which could ultimately be passed on to the consumer.

Following the order coming into play, China announced plans to impose taxes of 15 percent on coal and liquified natural gas from the US, as well as a 10 per cent levy on crude oil, farming equipment, and some cars.

As for Canada, they are imposing 25 per cent tariffs on CA $155 billion of US goods, with an emotional prime minister Justin Trudeau saying on Thursday (March 6): “I am here to tell you all that we got you.”

Also on Thursday, Trump signed two executive orders to pause tariffs for a month on imports that are subject to a pre-existing trade agreement.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) means that around 38 per cent of imports from Canada and 50 per cent from Mexico will avoid the tariffs introduced by Trump, the White House has said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The measure is just temporary though, with all imports being subjected to the tariffs come April 2.

Speaking of the changes that have been made to the markets after signing off the orders, Trump has said: “I’m not even looking at the market.

“A lot of them are globalist … companies that won’t be doing as well because we’re taking back things that have been taken from us years ago. We’ve been treated very unfairly.”

Trump had previously taken to Truth Social to announce his plans after speaking to Mexican President Sheinbaum.

He wrote: “I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl.”

Officials in South Korea are said to be concerned after Donald Trump’s comments to Congress indicated their country could be next on the list to be hit with tariffs.

The 47th POTUS marked 43 days in charge of the country on Tuesday (March 4) with a speech to Congress.

During it, Trump revealed Vladimir Putin has provided ‘strong signals’ to the US that he wants peace with Ukraine and detailed a letter received from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid the ongoing war in Europe.

He also had a message for the people of Greenland in what was a somewhat confusing address.

A huge talking point from Trump’s premiership so far is that of tariffs, with the likes of Canada, Mexico and China being hit.

The tariffs have been introduced to tackle what the White House has described as an ‘extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl’.

Donald Trump has imposed a number of tariffs (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, while 20 percent tariffs have been dropped on China.

South Korea could be next on the tariffs list, with officials in Seoul said to be concerned by comments made by President Trump in his congress speech.

Trump said South Korea’s average tariff was four times higher than the level seen in the US, which suggested the country may be hit next.

He told Congress: “South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher. Think of that. Four times higher.

“And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But that’s what happens. This is happening by friend and foe.”

Seoul has since disputed this, with the ministry stating they would be ‘actively communicating’ with officials in Washington about tariffs.

As a counter, China announced plans to impose taxes of 15 percent on coal and liquified natural gas from the US, as well as a 10 percent levy on crude oil, farming equipment, and some cars.

Meanwhile, imports of US-grown chicken, wheat, corn and cotton will see an extra 15 percent tariff, while the likes of sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafoods, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products are seeing a 10 percent increase, as per AP.

Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s prime minister (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

Both the Canadian and Mexican leaders announced shortly after the tariffs were confirmed by Trump that they were bringing in counter tariffs.

Canada is imposing 25 percent tariffs on CA $155 billion of US goods, with prime minister Justin Trudeau stating: “It will have real consequences for you, the American people.

“The actions taken by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together.”

Speaking of her country’s plans, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on Twitter: “We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organisations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory.

“If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious fentanyl consumption in their country, they could fight the sale of drugs on the streets of their major cities, which they don’t do, and the laundering of money that this illegal activity generates that has done so much harm to its population.”

Here’s the impact Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have on groceries and gas prices.

President Trump has certainly wasted no time in getting his polices across, as he broke records for the number of executive orders signed on his first day as president.

The 47th US president has made changes to passports and immigration just to name a few, while his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America has certainly proved controversial.

The Trump administration has also imposed higher tariff imports on countries like China, Canada and Mexico.

What is Trump’s new executive order?

Trump’s executive order means import tariffs are taxed at 25 percent for Mexico and Canada, while there’s ten percent tariffs on goods from China. A 10 percent tariff will also apply to energy imported from Canada.

Donald Trump has signed a number of executive orders (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Trump had been threatening the tariffs to ensure greater cooperation from the countries on stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used for fentanyl, but he has also pledged to use tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing.

Speaking to press on Friday (January 31), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “Starting tomorrow, those tariffs will be in place. These are promises made and promises kept by the president.”

How Trump’s tariffs will affect your groceries and gas prices

The tariffs are set to have an impact on every American household, with families set to notice a hike in their weekly food shop.

Editor of The Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert told ABC: “About 63% of all our vegetables come from Mexico. When we look at fruit and nuts, about 50% come from there. If we take a look at our meat, that comes from Canada.

“This is not something that’s going to have a good effect for consumers any time soon.”

The likes of avocados, berries, cooking oil, meat, meat products, beer and even tequila are set to see increases, according to the expert.

Avocados are set to see a price increase (ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)

On top of that, you’ve got gas price hikes, with Lempert adding: “Gas prices are going to go up. That’s what we get from Canada.

“Also, if you take a look, a lot of our US cars are assembled and parts come from Mexico. So, we’re going to see the price of cars go up.”

Canada and Mexico’s response to the tariffs

Both the Canadian and Mexican president announced counter-tariffs on Saturday evening as a direct response to Trump’s executive order.