Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China


What happened
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday he would conduct a "relentless fight" to protect his country's economy from President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs.
Trump's sweeping import taxes on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, and the retaliatory measures announced by America's largest trading partners, sent markets tumbling for a second day, erasing the gains notched since Trump was elected on a pro-business platform.
Who said what
"Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada," Trudeau said. Canadians are "reasonable and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight" if pushed. He told the American people Canadians "don't want to see you hurt either, but your government has chosen to do this to you." Trudeau said it was not his "habit to agree with The Wall Street Journal," but "they point out" a trade war with America's closest allies "is a very dumb thing to do." The Journal said in an editorial last night that "Trump's tariffs whack Trump voters."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As stocks slid, "business leaders and farm state Republicans called for a quick end to the trade war, amid alarm about their bottom lines and a return of surging inflation," Politico said. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox Business Tuesday he thought Trump would "work something out" with Mexico and Canada, not a "pause" but more "I'll meet you in the middle some way," and "we're probably going to be announcing that tomorrow."
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told the BBC she had not been contacted about any deals, adding that while Trump officials "can say many things," the "only one that really takes a decision is President Trump."
What next?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday her country would, like Canada, respond with 25% import taxes on certain U.S. goods, though she was "going to wait" to unveil the retaliatory tariffs until Sunday, after a call with Trump scheduled for Thursday. Chinese spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference that "if war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
September 6 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include profiting from authoritarianism, and the National Guard entering the CDC
-
Should Britain withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights?
Talking Point With calls now coming from Labour grandees as well as Nigel Farage and the Tories, departure from the ECHR 'is starting to feel inevitable'
-
5 outspoken cartoons about Epstein survivors taking center stage
Cartoons Artists take on cover-ups, Trump surrounded, and more
-
Why are Trump's health rumors about more than just presidential fitness?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Extended absences and unexplained bruises have raised concerns about both his well-being and his administration's transparency
-
'The McDonald's menu board is one fascinating thing'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC