US President-elect Donald Trump
The Canadian federal government will unveil proposed retaliatory tariffs on an initial round of US imports Monday if incoming US president Donald Trump uses his inauguration to proceed with threatened levies on Canada, local daily The Globe and Mail reported on Thursday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would announce a rapid consultation period, possibly two weeks, on a first round of tariffs that would cover approximately 37 billion Canadian dollars (26 billion US dollars) of US imports, with implementation to follow immediately after, said the report.
Depending on how hefty initial US tariffs on Canada are, Trudeau may also announce consultations on tariffs covering another 110 billion Canadian dollars (76 billion US dollars) or so of American goods.
Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who was in Washington this week to meet congressional Republicans on the issue, said Thursday that he has heard of three tariff plans that Trump is considering: a 25 percent levy on Canadian goods, a 10 per cent tax for all countries, or an escalating tariff that starts low and rises over time.
