He questioned the logic, asking, “Why punish your partner while aligning with someone like that?”

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports, branding them a “trade war” that will hit American families hardest. In a Tuesday address from Parliament Hill, Trudeau described the U.S. move as “a very foolish choice,” vowing that Canada—though “polite” and “reasonable”—won’t hesitate to defend its interests.

Trudeau accused Trump of targeting Canada, “America’s closest friend and ally,” while cozying up to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, whom he labeled a “dictator and murderer.” He questioned the logic, asking, “Why punish your partner while aligning with someone like that?” In retaliation, Canada will impose 25 percent tariffs on 155 billion dollars in U.S. goods—30 billion dollars effective immediately, with the remaining 125 billion dollars to follow in three weeks. Trudeau also pledged to challenge the U.S. tariffs at the World Trade Organization, calling them a breach of free trade rules.

Speaking directly to Americans, Trudeau warned of rising prices and job losses, especially in U.S. industries tied to Canadian markets. “This will hurt you more than us,” he said, urging Trump to reverse course and prioritize “North American prosperity.” He dismissed Trump’s fentanyl-related criticisms as “utterly baseless” and accused him of aiming to cripple Canada’s economy for annexation—a notion Trudeau flatly rejected: “We’ll never be your 51st state.”

With his tenure as prime minister ending this Sunday after leading the Liberal Party since 2015, Trudeau promised robust support for affected Canadians, including aid for jobless workers and struggling businesses. “We’re Canadians,” he concluded. “We’ll fight relentlessly—and we’ll win.”