In a bold move, President Donald Trump issued a significant threat overnight, warning that he would impose much larger tariffs on the European Union and Canada if they collaborate in response to his tariffs. This statement was made in a post on Truth Social early Thursday morning, where Trump emphasized the need to protect U.S. economic interests.
Trump's post read, “If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both in order to protect the best friend that each of those two countries has ever had!” This declaration highlights his ongoing stance on trade relations and his readiness to escalate measures against nations perceived as threats to American economic well-being.
The President has previously hinted at targeting both the E.U. and Canada in his anticipated “Liberation Day” tariffs rollout scheduled for next week. While Trump has made threats to increase duties against these countries in the past, he has yet to take concrete action. His announcement on Wednesday regarding tariffs on all autos and auto parts not manufactured in the United States, effective April 3, could have significant ramifications for both Canadian and E.U. companies, although these tariffs were not explicitly directed at them.
As of now, neither the European Union nor Canada has issued a formal statement indicating a coordinated effort to harm U.S. interests. However, both regions have indicated their intention to respond to Trump’s latest tariff impositions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed that the E.U. “will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests.” She further pointed out that “Tariffs are taxes — bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the U.S. and the European Union,” stressing the negative impact of tariffs on both economies.
Newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has characterized Trump's recent actions as “a direct attack” on Canada. In light of this situation, he announced plans to convene a high-level Cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss potential responses to the U.S. tariffs. The Cabinet's deliberations could lead to a strategic countermeasure aimed at protecting Canadian economic interests amid escalating trade tensions.
As tensions rise over trade policies, the coming days will be critical in determining how the U.S., European Union, and Canada navigate their economic relationships. Observers are closely watching for any formal responses or retaliatory measures that could further complicate the already intricate web of international trade.
