Canadian government ready to reveal initial retaliation plan Monday if Trump makes good on tariff threat: sources

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc look on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a press conference concluding a first ministers meeting, in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian government is ready to respond with proposed retaliatory tariffs on an initial round of American goods on Monday if U.S. president-elect Donald Trump moves to immediately levy tariffs on inauguration day, sources confirm to CTV News.

Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports on Day 1 of his administration, “as one of many first executive orders.”

Trudeau met with all of Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders on Wednesday to discuss Canada’s response plan to the anticipated trade action.

They emerged from the hours-long meeting largely, but not unanimously, united around the plan to leave all options on the table, including targeting a list of U.S. goods with retaliatory counter-tariffs, cutting off key energy exports and considering ways to distribute revenues from any Canadian retaliation to impacted sectors.

Canada’s readiness to respond immediately comes after CTV News previously reported that Canadian officials were narrowing a list of American products to target.

A document was circulating with a list of goods that could be slapped with retaliatory tariffs, including U.S. steel products, ceramics such as toilets and sinks, glassware, and Florida orange juice.

A senior government source said Wednesday that during the meeting with premiers, talk of targeting politically impactful products such as Kentucky bourbon was well-received in the room. The official, speaking on background, said to expect a consultation period on any finalized list of items.

Despite Trump threatening tariffs, unless more is done to halt the flow of illegal drugs and migrants over the Canada-U.S. border, federal officials say they have received no assurances that their $1.3-billion border security plan will be enough to avoid the imposition of massive tariffs.

“If indeed the incoming administration moves forward with these unfair and unjust tariffs, Canada will respond,” Trudeau said Thursday, a sentiment echoed by his trade and foreign affairs ministers in respective same-day U.S. media interviews.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would not say Thursday whether he’d support energy export tariffs, something Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stood solely against after the First Ministers’ meeting, amid other premiers calling for a unified “Team Canada” response.

On Friday, Trudeau is meeting with his newly struck Canada-U.S. relations council of prominent Canadians tasked with leveraging their respective business, innovation and policy expertise to advise the prime minister and his government “at this important time in the Canada-U.S. relationship.”

Trudeau has also scheduled a cabinet retreat expected to be largely focused on “defending Canadian interests and strengthening Canada- U.S. relations” for next Monday and Tuesday, and has vowed to meet with the premiers weekly following Trump’s inauguration.

With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur and Stephanie Ha