Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said tonight that "nothing is off the table" when it comes to responding to the tariffs proposed by US President-elect Donald Trump, but that no region in the country should bear the full brunt of this clash, reported Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press, quoted by BTA.
Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports.
"We must rise to the challenge that we face," Trudeau said after a five-hour meeting in Ottawa with the premiers of the Canadian provinces, at which Trump's threats were discussed. "We also need to make sure the burden is spread across the country".
"We can't just punish one region because the tariffs have a bigger impact on that region," Trudeau stressed.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stressed that provinces must be united in their response to Trump's threats.
"The corresponding tariffs have to be tough," said Ford, who wore a hat that read "Canada is not for sale" at his pre-meeting press conference. "We have to send a message."
Trump, who takes office on Monday, has said he will use economic coercion to pressure Canada to become the 51st U.S. state. He also continues to mischaracterize the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, a resource-rich country that supplies the U.S. with goods like oil, as a subsidy.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly C$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border every day.
Among the proposed Canadian responses is a cutoff in energy supplies to the U.S., a move opposed by Danielle Smith, the premier of the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta.