Conservative Party leader in Canada pledges to respond forcefully to Trump tariffs

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, pledged on Saturday to respond forcefully to tariffs imposed by President Trump that harm the Canadian people or their economy.

Poilievre, seen as a likely contender to become the next prime minister, laid out his “Canada first” policy approach at a rally on Saturday, warning that the U.S. could lose a friend in Canada if it continues with its “unprovoked attack on our economy.”

“We must respond with strength, and strength means leverage. America has leverage, and we have leverage. I will use that leverage,” Poilievre said at the rally.

“Retaliation is only the beginning,” he continued. “Yes, we need to retaliate. If they put tariffs on our steel and aluminum, I will put tariffs on their steel and aluminum. If they hit us with generalized tariffs, we will respond dollar for dollar.”

“Yes, we will carefully target American goods that we don't need, can produce ourselves or we can get elsewhere, to maximize the impact on Americans while minimizing the impact on ourselves,” he added.

Trump last week signed a presidential memorandum proposing reciprocal tariffs that he maintains would crack down on unfair and discriminatory tariffs from both adversaries and allies.

The tariffs were not immediately imposed but the signing of the memo allows his administration to begin a review process to get them started. The reciprocal tariffs would be customized for each foreign trading partner, based on five different areas: tariffs the nation imposes on U.S. products, unfair taxes imposed, cost to U.S. businesses and consumers from another country’s policies, exchange rates, and any other practices the trade representative’s office determines is unfair.

White House officials said that Trump wants to move rapidly on imposing the tariffs, suggesting it would be “weeks” and no longer than “a few months” until they are in place.

Trump on Monday also signed proclamations to bolster tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States and crack down on attempts by China and Russia to evade penalties. Canada is a top export of both aluminum and steel to the U.S. and would therefore be especially burdened by the tariffs.

Poilievre challenged the U.S. plans for tariffs, arguing they would hurt both economies and would “turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbor.”

“So let me spell out the possibilities for our American friends and speak directly to them,” Poilievre said. “Option one, you can carry out an unprovoked attack on our economy. Your consumers will pay more and your workers will make less. Gas prices will skyrocket. You will turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbor, forced to match tariff with tariff and to seek friends everywhere else. Both our economies will weaken, leaving less money for defense and security, and our enemies will grow stronger.”

“See, the problem is, at times we might be too polite, soft spoken and humble for our own good,” he added. “We are slow to anger and quick to forgive, but never confuse Our kindness with weakness.”