Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau harshly condemned on Tuesday tariffs that US President Trump imposed on Canada, as well as Mexico and China, saying in a televised address that they would hurt people on both sides of the US-Canadian border and that Canada would "relentlessly fight" to protect its economy.
According to Kuwait News Agency, PM Trudeau described the tariffs as the US launching "a trade war against, its closest partner and ally, its closest friend." Canada, he said, would be implementing 25 percent tariffs against USD155 billion worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on USD30 billion worth of goods immediately.
The country also plans to file a legal challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming a violation of a free trade agreement that exists with the US.
Trudeau then spoke directly to the American public, telling them Canada did not "want this," accusing President Trump of choosing to put US jobs at risk.
Trudeau then said the tariffs were a "dumb thing to do" and that there was no justification for them.
He then also addressed President Trump, saying the two had done "big things together" in the past, adding he expected to speak to him again in the coming days.
Answering questions from reporters, he said Trump wanted to see a "collapse" of the Canadian economy, before reiterating Canada would never become the 51st US state.
Canada, Mexico, and China are the country's three largest trading partners.
The escalating trade war is likely to result in consumers paying higher prices for a wide range of products, including fruits and vegetables, flat-screen TVs, and auto parts.