Trudeau warns Vance about impact of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs
Ashley Burke, Olivia Stefanovich | CBC News | Posted: February 11, 2025 9:41 AM | Last Updated: February 12
Justin Trudeau brought up the impact of tariffs in U.S. vice-president's home state
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance that punishing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum will hurt his home state of Ohio, a senior Canadian official said.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of an international summit in Paris Tuesday, as the Trump administration moves forward with its threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from its biggest supplier, Canada, effective March 12.
"Tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum would be entirely unjustified," Trudeau told reporters at the summit. "We are the [U.S.'s] closest ally. Our economies are integrated."
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday as he departed from Brussels, Trudeau characterized the meeting as a brief chat that took place as the pair met.
WATCH | Trudeau details conversation with Vance in Paris:
"It was just a quick greeting exchange," Trudeau said. "I highlighted that $2.2 billion worth of steel and aluminum exports from Canada go directly into the Ohio economy, often to go into manufacturing there.
"He nodded, and noted it, but it wasn't a longer exchange than that."
Trump said on Monday the tariffs would be imposed on steel and aluminum from all countries "without exceptions or exemptions."
The federal government will work with the Trump administration over the coming weeks, Trudeau said, to make sure it understands the impact the levies would have on both the U.S. and Canada.
When asked by CBC News if he would reciprocate with matching tariffs on aluminum and steel, Trudeau said he hopes that doesn't have to happen.
"If it comes to that, our response, of course, will be firm and clear. We will stand up for Canadian workers. We will stand up for Canadian industries."
WATCH | Trudeau and Vance meet briefly in Paris:
Trump is promising to revive U.S. steelmaking in Rust Belt states, including Ohio, to bring back more industrial manufacturing jobs.
The state is America's biggest exporter sending more than $21 billion US in goods to Canada in 2023, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. If Canada retaliates, its steel, cars, plastics, iron and plane exports could be hit with counter tariffs.
The prime minister didn't announce specific retaliatory measures on Tuesday, but his government has warned that a trade war could drive up consumer prices and hurt the economy south of the border.
WATCH | Trump imposes 25% tariff on all steel, aluminum imports:
Vance didn't respond to Canadian media's questions about the tariffs while arriving at the summit on Tuesday.
The prime minister made his comments in Paris, on his way to the AI Action Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trudeau said he is also working with international leaders to co-ordinate a response. He travelled to Brussels on Wednesday to meet with European Union leaders and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
WATCH | Experts say new tariffs may have more of an impact than in Trump's first term: