Close Reading

US VOTER: “Uhhh, so you do this fella Trudeau is near the end of his term as Canada’s PM? I mean, if you all are done with him and all we could certainly use a guy like him in our executive branch “ ?? ??. \n BTW, I love Canadians. Hell, “ some of my best friends are Canadian.” None In the family of course-what would people say? But you know. This guy Trump is quite the hoser. How about you open up your borders just a pinch to let us sane Americans over? We don’t eat much and we’ll even pay for any medical expenses! Really we will. We’re use to it. How’s about like starting up an H1VFK visa. Yeah, you know-the Hey, I Voted For Kamala visa. Well, just think on it. You guys were there for us during Nam. You can do the human thing again. Cheers ?

I seem to recall the whole tariff thing started when Donald wanted to even up the 200 billion dollar subsidy to Canada which doesn’t exist, then he chose the immigration and fentanyl crisis that doesn’t exist … can’t wait to hear the next excuse. I would love to hear the real reason for this, and we will one day. I have no doubt that we Canadians will survive this nonsense as we always do.

Canada should permanently end all trade with America. To start with, end all energy exports to the Eastern Seaboard and bring the entire Eastern Seaboard to an immediate and compete standstill. American shipping and port traffic, all railroad traffic, all airline traffic relies on importing Canadian energy so cut off the supply and brine the entire Eastern Seaboard to an immediate halt.

Hey kimlit thank the Conservative for GST and HST. GST introduced by Mulroney in 1991. Free trade caused our manufacturing collapse. Harper, Conservative raised the retirement age to 67 and he changed the law to allow foreign govts to own more than 50% of Canadian companies. These young CanMagas don’t know about our history. The Conservative Party started and continues to be the party of the rich and big business. Look who is backing IDU organization…Koch Brothers, Mike Roman and other oligarchs. Trudeau raised CPP and OAS payments, lowered retirement age back to 65, dental plans for Seniors, cheap daycare….all of which PP said he will remove because we can’t afford it according to his handlers. He will privatize healthcare and raise retirement age again to appease his rich handlers.\n.

.... Well I'll tell you what Trudeau,.... None of us people wanted these tariffs either... At least not the people who are sane... I don't even think the people who voted for Donald Trump wanted these tariffs against the rest of the world either....I really don't understand the sense behind it because this is not going to make America greater.... It's going to destroy the economy of America and whatever the country it is that he poses these tariffs on... He thinks this is a strategy for getting what he wants... But I'll tell you what, he may be shocked and sadly mistaken when he finds out that it might just backfire ...this is a very conceited attempt to get the type of economic condition that he envisions for his new Dictatorship over America....he has alienated United States from its allies in Europe as well as its allies here at home.... This is probably about as dumb as his treatment of Volodimir Zelensky that just transpired on Friday at the oval office...and that idiot Vance is the one actually that has started that little debacle....I don't know man I thought these guys had more sense than to do this kind of shit.... But see this kind of situation is not going to affect him or his billionaire buddies because they have so much money they can cushion themselves until the cows come home....these assholes don't have nothing to worry about except the American people finding an emergency way of getting his ass out of office unless he changes course on all of this... I don't know if he can be impeached or not... But it might be a smart thing to find out if it IS possible.... AND EVEN IF IT IS WE STILL HAVE HIS SITTING REPLACEMENTS STILL IN OFFICE AS WELL SO I DON'T SEE THIS GOING AWAY WITHIN THE NEXT 4 YEARS UNLESS HE COMES BACK TO HIS SENSES, AND POSSIBLY GOES TO A DOCTOR AND HAVE HIS HEAD CHECKED....\nDTheMadkat123\nFrom a borrowed phone \n....the only thing I really do support that he is doing is securing the border and dealing with immigration issues here.... That's it that's all I was hoping that he would really focus on being in the oval office, and possibly standing by Ukraine, and Israel during these evil days.... Buddying up to Putin is like the single most insane thing that has come from this as well..I just hope and pray that he comes back to his senses and backtracks on all of this shit.... Besides I like Canada House whiskey, and Canada Dry Ginger ale, and other products from Canada.... Stand strong Canadians, I love you all, and I hope we can make it through these tough times ahead...but obviously the road that we're traveling now there really is no guarantees is there ?? Lady can you shut the hell up and go back to what Trudeau is saying ??

@Justin Trudeau you can start helping Canadians by axing the carbon tax!

Trudeau: now let me speak to Donald. *starts using basic and childlike language*\n\nNow let me speak to Canadians. *uses idioms and complex language*\n\nI can’t ???

Please send me info on how to get assistance starting a new business in Canada using all Canadian products.

Fentanyl coming from Canada was less than 1%. This was just an excuse for Trump. Trump wants to start WW 111 and start with Canada. Trump is old, he lived his life, he's not thinking about the young generations that ha e just started living. \n\nI believe that Trump is in with Putttin to give him classified information, knowing that he will not get away with his criminal charges so he can deflect to Russia where these is no Expedition treaty. TRUMP IS A TRADER!!!!\n\n\n Canadians are very nice people, until it's time not to be nice and that time is now.

Seems really disastrous that Trump would start a trade war with the Canadians.

Canadian here. My husband and I listen at you here on CNN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and we couldn't be more proud of you and your team. You say intelligent words right from the start and you deliver a strong message in a very strong manner, beginning with this: the US is declaring economic war on Canada, as well as strong arguments, and that fentanyl is just a pretext, which we all already know, that getting closer to Russia and cutting ties with its allies is Donald Trump's current course of action, and the fair question to ask is why is this man putting himself at the service of the Kremlin which is totally unnatural for an American.?

What an idiot. Your going to collapse your country. We dont need anything from Canada. Start making cars in usa again. Create a landbridge from alaska to Washington at least 1000 miles wide. Canada lost thier freedom of speech and thier freedom to protect themselves. Americans love Canadians so wee need to end the tyrannical globalist agenda and remove that regime from the face of the earth. Lets give canadians thier freedom.

Canadians are starting to sound like Democrats ! ???????????

Somebody needs to tell donald, the disgraced, soon to be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, soon to be former president, the never to be premier of America which is the soon to be 11th province of Canada by way of unanimous consent of the American public... DON'T START NO SH*T WOULDN'T BE NO SH*T!\nYou know what this is about don't you?? donald is mad at our Prime Minister because he was caught joking and making fun of donald with other world leaders at the 2019 NATO summit in London. So because donald has microscopically thin skin he can't take his over inflated ego being bruised in any way, so to get back at Trudeau he's going to take it out on the Canadian public and the American public, the consequences be dammed. The only thing that is important to him is revenge no matter what the cost. Besides, when Trudeau visited the Whitehouse, Melania gave him googly eyes and melted in his presence. Let's face it donald, you can never come close to ever being the man our Prime Minister is as much as I dislike Trudeau and are glade to see him gone.

When you ALREADY have tariffs in place against the US you cannot claim Trump is starting a trade war. You started it. Now we have a POTUS with the sand to stand up for us not the world. Republicans understand that things will get tough. Liberals are already snow flakes that were in a melt down from the day Trump took office. We voted them out. I don't think Canadians are going to tolerate much for long unless you open the Treasury and give them money thereby bankrupting them. Drop your tariffs and Trump will drop yours. Is a win win.

Trudeau shouldn't be making ANY speeches in his position. He should be packing up and leaving office so we can start to rebuild Canada without him. He's already agreed that he failed the Canadian people and he's the reason the US is putting tariffs on us.

Canadian government: start talks with mexico and the rest of the americas all the way down to Chile and Argentina.

Congratulations Mr. Trudeau, you finally sound like our Prime Minister should. Now start making this country self sufficient so we don't have to rely on anyone. No more selling off our Crown corporations our land and other businesses to foreign countries. Keep Canada Canadian and give jobs to born Canadians first. Stock pile our oil and gas for our use and lower the prices of these things so that transportation cost make things easier for business and personal enjoyment. Don't tax the farmer so that they can supply food to everyone cheaper. We should not be struggling in this country which has all the natural resources . The unnatural population growth has put a strain on the whole system and in some cases put us in danger too. The crime rate has increased in large part to your lax immigration system. All the businesses increased the prices of everything due to this unnatural population growth. Supply and demand is not working the way it is supposed to anymore. In a normal household we make plans and prepare for changes. You just said ok, let's bring people here and forgot about the preparations. Infrastructure first man. If your going to bring half a million people over here, build the houses first bro. Nobody in Canada should be homeless which is another result of poor preparation. The housing prices and everything else went through the roof in large part due to the unnatural population growth. Anyway, think first before you act just like in a private home. Good luck Mr. Trudeau and everyone else. I hope it's not too late to get this country back on track so we can all enjoy life the way we used to....Peace

Americans obviously didn’t understand what tariffs are, didn’t get that it’s an import tax which they must pay on goods and products they buy from Canada, a tax which tRump collects from Americans and uses to pay for tax-cuts for the richest citizens. But one more thing Americans don’t get is that before this fateful day an unofficial boycott against ALL US goods has been growing since tRump insulted Canada’s Prime Minister and threatened Canada’s sovereignty—whereas Canada’s official countervails ( which only kicked-in today )only target certain US goods, not ALL of them like ordinary Canadians are doing in growing numbers right now—in fact, the imposition of tRump’s tariffs today has only made the unofficial boycott bigger and more organized. It’s heartening that so many nations have solicited Canada, offering alternative sources for common US exports to Canada —citrus fruits, pharmaceuticals, and other manufactures, to name a few.\n\nI don’t think Canadians even realize how big this unofficial boycott is getting because it’s growing so fast. I’ve never seen a surge in Canadian patriotism like this. Never in my seven decades —which includes the two Referenda on Quebec separation. And there’s a federal election approaching when all partisans will be one-upping each other in the patriotism department—which manifests in more boycotts of US goods and hospitality services.\n\n Americans should know that the unofficial boycott is more harmful to US exporters than the official targeted countervails because it features immediate and longterm diminishment of Canadian purchases of US goods—all retailers know it’s very hard to recover lost customers once they’ve found alternatives (and the added patriotic effect only makes it worse). Included is diminishment of Canadian visits to the USA. Indeed, the internet is replete with testimonies of Canadian”snow birds” not only forgoing their annual sojourn in the Florida or Arizona sunshine but also of selling their properties there with the parting shot, “I will never vacation in the US again!” Already Mexico has seen its visits from Canadians (who have had a modest presence in Mexico for years) surge to unprecedented levels. I know from much-welcomed temp Mexican construction workers in BC (where I live) that they view Canadians completely differently from our mutual US neighbours—and now that affection is growing like never before. \n\nI’m continually amazed at how uninformed Americans are about tariffs—and misinformed by tRump and his goofy, preposterous, and ridiculous fantasy of world-domination. When tRump uses the lame excuse to implement emergency powers —that Canada is “allowing” (as Vance puts it) fentanyl to “pour into the USA”—it’s tantamount to saying Ukraine started the war with Russia. The man is a tendentious liar and narcissistic megalomaniac. \n\nI have faith that the great nation of the USA will reject tRump’s crazy policies—we all just have to hang on and let the needless suffering for both our nations (and the world with regard strategic alliances) play out until he either relents, is swamped in legal repercussions, is impeached, or otherwise removed from office!\n\nGood luck my American and Ukrainian friends!

American of Canadian descent. Hoping we can all weather this absurd trade war started by America's president

From The Netherlands: Bravo to you Trudeau! And to you Canadians. We’re on your side. ?????✌️… I can’t believe what is going on with the USA and how that monsters Trump can do such a thing, and why?!? And how does democracy works in the US; did he get a majority of votes for starting this war?!? It’s disgusting (and the start of WW3? I’m scared as hell).

Trump is planning to start cutting down our national forests to make up for Canadian lumber and not nearly enough people are talking about the damage he wants to do to our national parks

Canada’s Retaliation Against the Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930)\nOne of the most immediate and severe retaliatory responses to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff came from Canada, which was heavily dependent on trade with the United States. Canada was the largest export market for U.S. goods at the time, and when the U.S. imposed high tariffs on Canadian imports, Canada responded with its own punitive tariffs on American products.\n\nBackground: U.S.-Canada Trade Before Smoot-Hawley\nIn 1929, about 75% of Canadian exports went to the U.S.\nCanada was also a major supplier of lumber, wheat, cattle, and minerals to American markets.\nThe two economies were deeply intertwined, and Canada had traditionally followed a low-tariff trade policy with the U.S.\nCanada’s Response: Retaliatory Tariffs (1930)\nPrime Minister R.B. Bennett responded to Smoot-Hawley by raising tariffs on American goods, specifically targeting products from the U.S. Midwest and industrial centers.\nCanada increased tariffs on over 16 U.S. goods, including:\nFarm machinery\nAutomobiles\nFruits and vegetables\nTextiles\nThese tariffs redirected Canadian trade away from the U.S. and toward Britain and other Commonwealth nations, under a new imperial preference system.\nEconomic Consequences\nFor the United States:\n❌ Sharp decline in U.S. exports to Canada\n\nU.S. exports to Canada dropped by 55% between 1929 and 1932.\nAmerican automobile and farm equipment industries suffered severe losses.\nMany Midwest farmers, who had relied on Canadian sales, went bankrupt.\n❌ Loss of a major trading partner\n\nCanada sought alternative suppliers in Britain, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations.\nThis permanently weakened U.S.-Canada economic ties, forcing the U.S. to reconsider its trade policies.\nFor Canada:\n✅ Diversification of Trade\n\nCanada strengthened trade ties with Britain and other Commonwealth countries.\nCanadian exports to Britain increased, helping Canada avoid complete economic collapse.\n❌ Short-term economic pain\n\nWhile Canada successfully retaliated, the tariffs raised prices for Canadian consumers.\nThe Canadian economy still suffered from the global depression, but it recovered faster than the U.S. by diversifying trade.\nLong-Term Impact\nPermanent Shift in Canadian Trade Policy\n\nCanada moved away from dependence on the U.S. and pursued closer economic ties with Britain.\nThis weakened U.S. economic influence in Canada for decades.\nRepeal of Smoot-Hawley and the Start of U.S. Trade Liberalization\n\nThe failure of Smoot-Hawley contributed to the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act (1934) under Franklin D. Roosevelt, which lowered tariffs and encouraged bilateral trade deals.\nU.S.-Canada trade eventually recovered, but the economic damage lasted for years.\nConclusion\nThe U.S. intended to protect its industries, but Smoot-Hawley backfired by provoking Canada’s retaliation. This case study highlights how tariffs can damage relationships with key trading partners, disrupt industries, and reduce exports, ultimately harming the economy.

When do we start talking about the carbon tax this guy is putting on Canadians next month? I believe this is going to do more damage to Canadian families than the tariffs.

Y know what is really stupid? Are the American businesses ready for Canadian goods,parts and materials replacements? Of coarse no.THEN WHY Redhair freak started the trade war now? He set Americans same way as he does with Canadians.Then who really needs it ? HIM.THAT REDHAIR FOOL IN ORDER TO PERFORM ON VIDEOCAMERAS ONE MORE DAY showing own toughness.He would rather show it to his wife and kids conservative way he likes.

Today as an Australian I am buying Canadian products in my groceries. I don’t see many available (hopefully that can change) but I will start with Maple Syrup

Maybe you could start with having the Pope apologize to us Canadians about the lies you, Mr. Trudeau told about Natives being buried and killed by teachers in Canada and you blamed us. Where is our apology first. A reasonable Canadian asks.

He is working like a true Demonrat. They lie blame for his own doing. Where was your friendship Trudeau when your corrupt friend Biden inflated the Americans people? You didn't want to meet with Mr. Trump (who you say is your friend) to make fair and balanced trade. That seems like a one-sided friendship and we are about COMMON SENSE. Trudeau, you are putting Americans and Canadians through this because you don't want to see that Mr. Trump just wants fairness and for some reason you want tariff wars. That's the truth and you need to start speaking truth and quit misleading people with lies! That's why the democrats have been defeated because they are corrupt and they lie to the people.

That Paula Newton lady is framing this like this is Canada's fault, not that the US started this whole situation. Canada is only responding to getting punched in the face by saying they won't let themselves continue to get punched, which is 100% reasonable. Sorry both Americans and Canadians will have to deal with this insanity and the rest of the world will have to deal with the ramifications of Trump's destructive policy.

finally we hear Trudeau speak the truth.Maybe he should have tried being less political and more honest with Canadians starting oh say -TEN F-IN YEARS AGO.

I am appalled by the american journalists. The way they both were talking about it is implying that Canada (e.g. we, as I am Canadian) are starting war against them. Justin said it as it is - the war was started by USA. But apparently, if Ukraine could be the aggressor ?(repeated many times over now by the American propagandists), so are we.

Powerful speech from PM Trudeau! So much wisdom.\n\nWe Finns are on your side dear Canadians! I have now started to be more conscious from where are all the goods and stuff that are available for purchase here in Finland really coming from. I just bought a big smoked fish originated from Canada at the local grocery store and from now on, starting to look carefully our labels to get this support to the right address. ❤

The United States did not start a trade war with Canada, Trump did. The American people love Canadians. Trump is not the US.

Canadians had already started boycotting goods from US, elbows up friends! ??

Oh he’s interested in “facts now”\nFentanyl is rife in every Canadian city \nThink he should start growing his economy and stop taxing Canadian citizens to death with his Marxist ideologies

I am French Canadian who is an American citizen and never have I felt so DISCUSTED AND APPALD with this new government that has started the fall of everything that America stands for I STAND WITH CANADA ?? MEXICO ?? AND UKRAINE ?? ?

Trump wants to break the Canadians in order to ultimately force the annexation of Canada into the United States. This is the main goal of this trade war, since the USA cannot start a traditional war with Canada like Putin did.

Guys let’s start supporting Canada ! I’ll go buy maple syrup and whatever Canadians goods I can find in the supermarket tomorrow.

Start checking Canadian ports. The border is just a part of it. Maybe if they up the staff at Canadian ports we can get somewhere with this trade war. That's where a lot of Canadian cars are going after they get stolen they need to check more shipping containers for contraband. That's probably where most fentanyl or precursors are coming in.

I hope you Canadians know that WE, the sane citizens of the United States, do NOT agree with what Trump has started. We don't even want him here!\n\nUnfortunately, there are a lot of racists in our country who have learned to blame other groups of people for the failures of the very party they vote for. \n\nI say, FIGHT BACK! Don't allow the Dictator Orange Man to bully y'all. However, this affects us, we'll have to deal with it, and the ONLY person to blame will be Trump! \n\nLong live, Canada! -Signed, A Black American Woman (who did not vote for that literal clown)

Getting tired of Trudeau and Trump speaking for both countries and the citizens of both countries.\nWhile World leaders fight for power the ordinary citizens of both countries suffer the consequences of their actions.\nIf Trudeau really cared about Canadians he could start by eliminating the Carbon Tax.

The number of countries around the world boycotting American products in support of Canada will really bite America. Canadians are done, we will not be bullied by our neighbours to the south, and free nations are watching. America has lost all previous respect it had on the world stage. America is not a decent and reliable friend, America can not be trusted to honour its agreement. We will fight back! Canad has never started a war of any kind, but we have never failed to fight back when attacked, and we have never lost a war!

What if true Americans start buying Canadian good only ?

I am Canadian and wonder how long will it be before Trump starts to invade Canada like Russia did to Ukraine

It's almost as if Trudeau doesn't even know who Donald Trump is! Speaking to him directly and addressing him as Donald instead of President Trump is a blatant show of disrespect. \n\nGuess what Canada. We don't need you for ANYTHING! I already boycott Canadian Club. Not for political reasons, but I don't like drinking bever piss. And I'll start buying my maple syrup from Vermont. So, you keep your shit, we'll keep our shit, and good luck to you.

Agree with Trudeau here, and as a Canadian conservative, that’s not something I say easily. But let’s get real here. Trump is NOT a smart guy. He has cratered most businesses he’s started, he has no understanding of economics whatsoever and he speaks like a five-year old. Conversely, here in Canada and around the world (including many in the US who are voicing heir support here) we have A LOT of smart people and an enormous amount of good will, and we will persevere and overcome. Bring it MAGA!

Canadian here…are you starting to realize we’re not playing? The gloves are off it’ll be tough for us but make no mistake it’ll be tough for you too ✊??

When a Canadian starts to speak sternly to you, you know: Shit is coming. As a German, I am with the Canadian people. Please, don’t let yourselves get confused: Trumps blisteringly incompetent management is what the 36% of Americans who voted for him deserve, as well as the about 30% of Americans who DIDN’T vote at all. Sorry for the other about 34%. On a side note: Amazing, how Trudeau still flatters Trump at the end. Very diplomatic and manipulative. Because Trump is so dump, he falls for shit like that.

In your own words you have done nothing during biden administration to stop illegals or drugs you have started in january 2025 sell your canadian products elsewhere?

In the 21st century, the act of war definition has changed, if we are still looking at 19th and 20th century definitions then act of war by which you mean a nation declare its enemy and start war by means of army to destroy the enemy and conqure the enemy nation with territorial gain. Now all this economic tarriffis are new tool and similar to old act of war against a nation with a mean to destroy and annihillate their economy to acquire them as 51st state at the end. The Canadians are rightly perceiving this threat and rightly angry and disappointed in USA aggression under Trump administration. God help and save Canada, ?