Canada confident in winning trade conflict with US

Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly believes the country can successfully navigate the ongoing trade war with the United States, sparked by tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Joly pointed out that Canada is the largest buyer of American goods, purchasing more from the US than China, Japan, the UK, and France combined. Trump has introduced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. He plans to enforce further "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2. Joly emphasized the strong economic ties between the US and Canada, stating that this gives Canada leverage in negotiations. She noted that the impact of tariffs is felt not only by Canadians but also by hardworking Americans. Joly suggested that American citizens could ultimately play a crucial role in ending the trade war. They can send messages to their lawmakers to advocate for a resolution. "We can win the hearts and minds of Americans," she said, highlighting the job risks for both Canadians and Americans due to the tariffs. In response to the trade tensions, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs if Trump's plans move forward. This escalation has caused frustration, leading to protests in Canada, including one in Toronto promoting the phrase "elbows up" as a slogan against the tariffs. As Canada approaches a federal election, Joly indicated that the Liberal party wants a strong mandate to deal with Trump's tariffs. The election could be a contest between Prime Minister Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Canadians are concerned about developments in the US and seek a prime minister with strong principles. Trump's tariff strategy aims to boost American manufacturing and protect jobs, though he has acknowledged the risk of an economic downturn. Initially targeting imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, Trump has claimed these countries contribute to problems such as illegal migration and drug trafficking, claims that all three countries deny.