Amid the uncertainty about the possible entry into force on Tuesday of 25 percent American tariffs on Canadian products, Canadian political leaders warned that they are prepared to retaliate against the US.
The Head of Government of the Province of Ontario, the industrial heart of Canada and where the country’s automobile sector is concentrated, Doug Ford, said that the country has to answer with equivalent reprisals, “dollar per dollar”, which the US president, Donald Trump, imposes.
Ford added that if the US imposes on Tuesday the announced tariffs, LCBO, the provincial company that is one of the largest individual buyers of alcohol in the world with the acquisition every year of about one billion dollars in drinks, will stop selling American products.
The measure will especially affect the state of Kentucky, the main producer of Bourbon. Ford also wants to retaliate against one of Trump’s main advisors, businessman Elon Musk.
“We are going to immediately cancel Starlink, by Elon Musk. It is not that 100 million dollars are much for him, but it is the beginning. And I have ordered that the acquisition of about 30,000 million dollars in products avoid EU and ensure that we buy in Ontario or in the rest of the country, ”added Ford.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government is waiting for the final decision on the encumbrances.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is returning this Monday to Ottawa after attending the European Summit on Ukraine during the weekend and meeting this Monday with the King of England, Carlos III, who is the nominal head of state of Canada.
According to the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, the US government still does not know if it will implement taxes since Trump will make the decision on tariffs to Canada and Mexico this Monday.
“The president has to decide how he wants to proceed. Our work as advisors is to provide all the details. Today we will discuss the issue throughout the day, and tomorrow the decision will be announced, ”said Lutnick in an interview today with CNN.
In February, Canada has already announced that it is prepared to adopt immediate reprisals if Washington imposes tariffs.
Initially, Ottawa said he will tax 30 billion dollars of American imports with a 25 percent tariff to subsequently increase the figure to 155 billion dollars.
With EFE information.
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