Canada is ‘leading the charge’ against Trump’s trade war with $60 billion worth of counter tariffs on American goods, and is urging Europe to retaliate too, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told Euronews in an exclusive interview.
Joly wants the rest of the world to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs, and said the American people also need to speak up as their jobs are also on the line.
Although Canada was omitted from Trump’s announcement of tariffs against over 180 countries last Wednesday, it was one of the first countries in the firing line weeks previously when the White House announced crushing taxes on major Canadian exports such as steel and aluminium.
“We were the canary in the coal mine. We are under three executive orders coming from the White House, one on our entire imports of 25% tariffs, which we were able to partly pause, but for 40% of all our goods being sent to the US, there’s still 25% tariffs. We also have 25% on our steel and aluminium going to the US, and we also have 25% tariff against our auto sector,” Joly told Euronews.
In response, Canada announced $60 billion worth of tariffs on American goods entering Canada. Joly says the counter-tariffs are the only route to disrupt Trump’s plans and force him to retreat, despite the fact the White House has warned against any retaliation.
“We’re defending ourselves. We never started this trade war, and it is clear to us, knowing so well the American people, that the Americans don’t agree with the actions coming out of the White House,” she said. “Millions of jobs in the US can be lost because of a trade war with Canada.”
Joly hopes others will join the fight. “Not only are we leading the charge, we’re the country at this point that has imposed counter-tariffs the most against US goods. We’re working with the EU. I had just a conversation with the a trade commissioner, Sefcovic. “We’re working also with Asian partners, and we’ll continue to put maximum pressure.”
She is also calling on ordinary Americans to assume a critical role in the trade war. “The only way for President Trump to back off on his trade war is for the American people themselves to say ‘enough’. They are the ones who can create the political pressure within their own system to ensure that change occurs,” Joly said.
Trump’s Attacks on Canada
In addition to imposing tariffs, President Trump has escalated his attacks on Canada, even suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state—an assertion that Joly takes seriously.
“When President Trump speaks, we listen, and we take him at his word. It’s crucial to understand: he is the most powerful person on earth and, as such, has many tools at his disposal,” Joly cautioned.
She thinks Trump’s taunts and threats to Canada’s sovereignty have united the Canadian public, with citizens rallying against the notion. “People are clearly saying that this will never happen. We will never be the United States. We can be your best friends, your best neighbors, your best allies, but forget it—we’ll never be your 51st state,” Joly affirmed.
Coalition of the Willing
After three years of full support for Ukraine, Canada has joined the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”, and Joly has not ruled out sending troops on the ground, following the example of other NATO allies such as France and the United Kingdom.
“Before the war began, Canada had already trained 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers. We have expertise in training, and we continue to train Ukrainians both in-country and abroad,” Joly said.
The Minister believes that, like Europe, Ukraine represents a matter of personal security for Canada. “If we don’t support Ukraine, we are next to a very dangerous Russia, which is also a concern for Europeans, and for us in the Arctic. President Putin has no red lines,” Joly added. She warned that failing to secure a concrete deal in Ukraine could leave the West vulnerable to a potential Russian attack on NATO.
Pressure in the Arctic
Another critical issue for Joly is Arctic security, particularly in light of President Trump’s threats to annex Greenland—an attack on its sovereignty. Joly remains open to strengthening Arctic security within NATO to counter Chinese and Russian military cooperation, while stressing that such efforts must not undermine sovereignty.
“I share the concerns of the United States. We can work together to address these issues, but it must not come at the expense of our sovereignty or that of our allies. The sovereignty of Canada and Denmark must be respected, period,” Joly stated.
Hungary Withdraws from the ICC
To Joly’s disappointment, Hungary recently confirmed its decision to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), an institution that the Minister firmly supports. Canada played a significant role in establishing the ICC in 2000.
“We have always believed that the international system lacked accountability when it came to countries abiding by international law, and that is why we support the ICC. It is indeed troubling when we see the erosion of accountability in a world that is increasingly dangerous,” Joly warned.
On the situation in Gaza, the minister emphasised that the only path to peace and civilian protection lies in a two-state solution. “We need to ensure that the violence stops and that civilians are protected. Canada firmly believes that there will be no peace or security in the Middle East without a two-state solution,” Joly said.
