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Strapped to the roller coaster that is dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, senior Canadian cabinet ministers say they aren’t surprised the newly sworn-in leader is still considering hitting Canada with tariffs as early as next month.
“The one thing we’ve learned is that President Trump — at moments — can be unpredictable,” said Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters late Monday, from a cabinet retreat in Western Quebec.
For a few hours it appeared Canada had evaded steep tariffs — at least for the day — after the Wall Street Journal reported none were coming on Day 1 of Trump’s second term in office.
WATCH | Joly, LeBlanc respond to Trump’s latest tariff comments:

Joly, LeBlanc respond to Trump’s latest tariff comments
10 hours ago
Duration3:15
After newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump said he was thinking about slapping proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canada on Feb. 1, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Canada has a threefold plan that includes preventing tariffs, preparing possible retaliatory measures and working on ‘our long-term response.’
Instead, officials told U.S. outlets the president would direct agencies in a memo to “investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations.”
That is going ahead, but Trump also mused to reporters on his return to the Oval Office Monday night that he is thinking about slapping 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico as early as Feb. 1.
“We’re thinking in terms of 25 per cent [tariffs] on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people … and fentanyl to come in,” Trump said.
LeBlanc, flanked by Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, reiterated the government’s line that it has a plan and is prepared with reciprocal tariffs.
“There’s nothing new this evening than was new a week ago,” he said. “We have spent the last number of weeks preparing potential response scenarios for the government of Canada, in partnership with provinces and Canadian business leaders and union leaders.”
The federal government has made clear it’s prepared to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. if Trump eventually moves ahead with any trade action. Officials have already drawn up a plan that will levy immediate tariffs on $37-billion worth of American goods if Trump moves against Canada.
The federal cabinet is expected to discuss scenarios and the government’s plan forward as it gathers behind closed doors Monday and Tuesday at the Château Montebello, about an hour from Ottawa.
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When Trump first threatened to hit Canada and Mexico with steep tariffs back in November, he cited concerns about border security, migrants and illegal drugs, especially fentanyl. He’s also talked about United States’ trade deficit with Canada.
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Last month, the federal government committed to $1.3 billion in spending to strengthen surveillance of the Canada-U.S. border, including buying dozens of drones and leasing helicopters.
“If the president and his government believe that we can do more in partnership with the Americans to secure the border, we have a very good news story to tell them,” said LeBlanc.
In a statement earlier Monday, Trudeau congratulated Trump on his inauguration, while underscoring that “Canada and the United States have the world’s most successful economic partnership.”
“We are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration, members of the United States Congress and officials at the state and local levels to deliver prosperity for our peoples — while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians,” he wrote.
The cabinet is also meeting as the party undergoes a leadership campaign to replace Trudeau.
So far six people have thrown their hat in the ring: former government House leader Karina Gould, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, Ottawa MP Chandra Arya and former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Baylis.
Source: cbc
