Canada’s foreign minister appealed directly to U.S. lawmakers Wednesday to end a burgeoning trade war, after President Trump ordered steep tariffs on imports of metals from Canada and other U.S. trading partners. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke to reporters after meeting with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—including Arizona Republican Jeff Flake.
Sen. Jeff Flake: “Can you imagine being in Canada, our closest ally on the planet, and to be told that they are—they represent a national security threat, that the export of steel and aluminum is threatening our national security? That’s insulting. It really is.”
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland: “Canada has, therefore, truly more in sorrow than in anger, announced a perfectly reciprocal, measured, dollar-for-dollar retaliation response. We have published our retaliatory list. Our tariffs will come into effect on July 1st.”