President Trump doubled down Thursday on his claim that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is using the escalating trade war between the two neighbors as a campaign issue, just before giving Mexico a delay on tariffs covered by the free trade deal.
“Believe it or not, despite the terrible job he’s done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trudeau announced his intent to resign in January. The two spoke Wednesday following Trump’s move to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and after the call, the president said Trudeau is using the trade war to try to stay in power.
Trump, moments after doubling down on criticizing Trudeau, announced a roughly monthlong delay on tariffs on Mexican imports that are covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal that was signed during his first term.
He said he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and is making “an accommodation … out of respect” for her.
Trump had already exempted USMCA-compliant North American automakers from the new tariffs, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested he would likely announce more exemptions.
Meanwhile, Trudeau earlier Thursday said he thinks the U.S. and Canada will be in a trade war for the foreseeable future, The Associated Press reported.
Trump on Tuesday threatened to add additional taxes on Canada if the U.S.’s northern neighbor retaliates with its own, after Trudeau called out Trump in an address, calling the tariffs “dumb” and defending Canada’s retaliatory ones, at one point speaking directly to Americans.
“We don’t want this. We want to work with you as a friend and ally, and we don’t want to see you hurt either, but your government has chosen to do this to you,” he said, later adding, “They have chosen to launch a trade war that will, first and foremost, harm American families.”
