The President of the United States, Donald Trump, criticized the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, again, suggesting that he is using the issue of tariffs for electoral purposes. Despite Trudeau stating that he has no intention of running for reelection, Trump hinted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the Canadian would be taking advantage of the situation he himself has created to run again.
In a phone conversation held on Wednesday between Trudeau and Trump that lasted about 50 minutes, the U.S. president accused Trudeau on Truth Social of using the issue of tariffs to stay in power. Trudeau, for his part, announced his intention to step down after more than nine years leading the Government of Canada, although he will remain until the Liberal Party elects its new leader on March 9, with general elections scheduled for October this year.
The trade war initiated by Trump with his main partners on March 4 by imposing tariffs of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada, as well as an additional tariff of 10 percent on China, has generated tensions. However, this Thursday, Trump announced a pause on tariffs on Mexico after a call with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
For its part, Canada has imposed tariffs in retaliation against the United States. Trudeau stated this Thursday at a press conference that Canada will not remove the tariffs imposed on the U.S. until Trump fully cancels the duties affecting his country. The White House announced yesterday, Wednesday, a one-month delay in the imposition of the 25 percent tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada due to potential consequences for American manufacturers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. Additionally, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick suggested suspending for one month the tariffs applied to products from Canada and Mexico included in the T-MEC free trade agreement.
