Canada can win trade war with US, says Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly

Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has expressed confidence that Canada can win the ongoing trade war with the United States, which was triggered by a series of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

“We are the biggest customer of the US,” Joly said in an interview with BBC’s World Service Weekend programme. “We buy more from the Americans than China, Japan, the UK, and France combined.”

Joly highlighted that tariffs and increased prices are a major concern for Canadians as the country prepares for a federal election later this year. Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and has vowed to implement a broader range of “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2.

Given the deep economic ties between the two nations, Joly asserted that Canada holds significant leverage over the US. “We have the most leverage in the world when it comes to the US,” she said, emphasizing that the impact of tariffs is being felt on both sides of the border. She noted that “hardworking Americans” are also suffering from the economic strain.

Joly believes that American citizens may ultimately play a key role in ending the trade war. “We think that ultimately the only ones that will be able to help us win this war… are the Americans themselves because they’re the ones that can send a message to their lawmakers,” she stated. “We can win the hearts and minds of Americans because, ultimately, they’re the ones paying for this.”

The trade war is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming Canadian federal election. Reports suggest that Prime Minister Mark Carney may call a snap election on Sunday, with voting expected on April 28. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also been vocal on the issue, arguing that he is best positioned to challenge Trump’s tariffs. “There is no good reason to do this to these good people,” Poilievre said earlier this week. “Stop the tariffs, stop the chaos.”

Trump has signaled plans to impose additional tariffs on April 2, referring to them as “the big one.” In response, Prime Minister Carney has vowed to introduce retaliatory tariffs if Trump follows through on his threats. The standoff has intensified tensions between the two North American countries.

The trade dispute has sparked protests in Canada. On Saturday, demonstrators in Toronto staged an “elbows up” protest, a reference to a hockey term for defending oneself, to oppose Trump’s trade policies and his remarks about making Canada the 51st state of the US. Meanwhile, Joly reiterated that Canadians are looking for a leader with “strong values” to handle the ongoing trade challenges with the US.

Source: BBC