Justin Trudeau Slams Trump’s New U.S. Tariffs as a ‘Dumb Thing to Do’

By Evans Momodu
2 minute digest
Published 13:26 UK GMT, March 5, 2025

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sharply criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, calling them a "dumb thing to do" as trade tensions escalate between the two nations.

U.S. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China Now in Effect

The new U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China officially came into effect overnight. The expansion of trade restrictions to include America’s top three trading partners has triggered:

1. Promises of retaliation from affected nations
2. A decline in global stock markets
3. Mounting concerns over a full-scale trade war

During a Tuesday press conference, Trudeau condemned the tariffs, stating that Canada will:

• File a legal challenge against the United States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• Consider additional countermeasures to respond to Trump’s trade policies

“Today, the United States has launched a trade war against Canada, its closest partner, ally, and friend,” Trudeau declared.

“They have sabotaged their own economic agenda. There is absolutely no justification or need for these tariffs today.”

U.S.-Canada Relations Strained Over Trade and Fentanyl Agreement

Trudeau also expressed frustration that Trump’s trade restrictions undermined a previous agreement on fentanyl production—a deal both leaders had reportedly discussed.

The tariffs, which have already been met with backlash from Mexico and China, continue to shake the global economy, as world leaders evaluate their next moves in the growing U.S. trade dispute.
Source: Sky news