EYE FOR AN EYE, EH?

Canada to retaliate for new US tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday slammed the Trump administration for imposing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, calling it “totally unacceptable” and an affront to an ally that has fought with US forces for decades.

“Canadians have served alongside Americans in two world wars and in Korea. From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, we have fought and died together,” he said.

“Canada is a secure supplier of aluminum and steel to the US defense industry, putting aluminum in American planes and steel in American tanks. That Canada could be considered a national-security threat to the United States is inconceivable.”

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the 25 percent tariffs on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum on Thursday and said they would take effect at midnight.

Trump first announced the punitive fees in March, saying it was a national-security issue because unfair competition from foreign producers of steel and aluminum damages the US.

“Without a strong economy, you can’t have a strong national security,” Ross said.

But House Speaker Paul Ryan called the US tariffs counterproductive. “I disagree with this decision. Instead of addressing the real problems in the international trade of these products, today’s action targets America’s allies when we should be working with them to address the unfair trading practices of countries like China,” Ryan said.

Canada, Mexico and the Euro- pean Union, which were initially granted exemptions that expire Friday, said they would retaliate by imposing their own penalties on American goods.

Argentina, Australia, Brazil and South Korea agreed to restrict exports of metals and were exempted, but Ross said he was still negotiating with the EU, Canada and Mexico.

Trudeau said he was willing to go to DC for further talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement but was told by Vice President Mike Pence that Trump would require Canada agree to a five-year sunset clause in the deal before even scheduling the meeting.

Trudeau said he declined because of the “totally unacceptable” NAFTA precondition.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said her nation will hit the US with tariffs against steel and aluminum and are looking at other products, including coffee, beer kegs, household items and toiletries.

The penalties will remain in effect until Trump relents, she vowed.

“It is entirely inappropriate to view any trade with Canada as a threat to the United States’ national security,” Freeland said.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called Trump’s action “protectionism, pure and simple.”

The EU said it would impose taxes on a number of US imports, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Levi’s jeans and Kentucky bourbon.

Mexico said it would apply penalties on blueberries, pork bellies, grapes and certain types of steel.

Canadians have served alongside Americans in two world wars and in Korea.

— Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Without a strong economy, you can’t have a strong national nation security.

— Commerce Commer Secretary Wilbur W Ross