The left-wing Liberal politician believes a list itemizing products worth $200 billion Canadian dollars (US$139 billion) would send a message to U.S. exporters about the harm tariffs would cause them, Freeland said in a statement.
“Being smart means retaliating where it hurts,” she said, according to AP.
“Our counterpunch must be dollar-for-dollar — and it must be precisely and painfully targeted: Florida orange growers, Wisconsin dairy farmers, Michigan dishwasher manufacturers, and much more.”
“Now is the moment when Canada must make clear to Americans the specific costs that will accompany any tariff measures by the Trump administration.”
Trump has said he will use economic pressure to push Canada to secure its porous borders and stop the flow of fentanyl and illegals crossing the same, as Breitbart News reported.
“We are thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada, because they are allowing vast numbers of people — Canada is a very bad abuser also – vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office one week ago.
“I think we’ll do it February 1,” Trump responded when a reporter asked for the timing on these tariffs.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.
John Ries, senior associate dean at the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business, told AP that Canada should retaliate against any tariffs but warned against publicizing a list in advance, citing the risk of antagonizing Trump — and making it harder for him to back off on his threats.
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“He always wants to win,” said Ries. “He doesn’t want to show any weakness.”
Freeland, who is casting herself as the leadership candidate best able to deal with Trump, said Monday if she wins the leadership race and become prime minister she would also prohibit American companies from bidding on Canadian federal procurement (excluding defense).
She also said she would convene an international summit with the leaders of Mexico, Denmark, Panama, and the president of the European Union to “coordinate a joint response to challenges to our sovereignty and our economies.”
Meanwhile Freeland’s leadership rival Mark Carney told Radio-Canada over the weekend Canada should retain the option of cutting off Quebec’s hydro exports to the U.S. — although that’s not the first card he would play.
Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: or e-mail to: skent@breitbart.com
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