Ottawa: A 25 percent tariff would be damaging to both Canadian and American workers alike and would lead to job losses on both sides of the border, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Wednesday, in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threat.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Trudeau on Wednesday night held a virtual meeting with all 13 premiers to discuss Trump’s tariff threat, as per a readout issued by the prime minister’s office. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the need for premiers to utilize all their contacts, channels, and abilities to communicate crucial information and messages to Americans and influential figures.

The Canadian leadership agreed to continue their close collaboration to advocate for Canada’s interests and the deep economic ties that underpin prosperity on both sides of the border, spanning all sectors of the economy. This united front comes in response to Trump’s vow on Monday to impose a 25 percent tariff on al
l products from Canada and Mexico once he takes office, unless both nations take action against drugs and illegal immigration into the United States from their territories.

Statistics Canada reports that for the first nine months of this year, Canada exported over 300 billion U.S. dollars in goods to the United States, highlighting the significant economic interdependence between the two countries.