Poilievre wants to impose 50 per cent metal tariffs on U.S. after latest Trump threat

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday Canada should hit the U.S. with matching tariffs on steel and aluminum in reply to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade war escalation.

Early on Tuesday, Trump said he would double the steel and aluminum tariffs he promised to deploy on Canadian products Wednesday — to 50 per cent — in response to Ontario’s 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S.

In the afternoon, following a meeting with Trump’s commerce secretary, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the Trump administration had agreed to scale the tariff back to 25 per cent after Ontario agreed to drop the surcharge.

In a media statement, Poilievre said the United States should not “mistake our kindness for weakness.”

“We are a strong, proud and sovereign country and we will fight back against these attacks against our economy and our workers,” Poilievre said.

Poilievre also called on the government to take action to combat metal dumping and other “unfair” trade practices by China. Dumping refers to the practice of selling a commodity at below market value.

Liberal leader and prime minister-designate Mark Carney said in a social media statement he will keep Canada’s retaliatory tariffs in place until “Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade.”

On Monday, Carney said he would not formally take part in negotiations with the Trump administration until he is sworn in as prime minister, which is expected to happen later this week.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday that Canada should use Canadian steel and aluminum for public infrastructure projects.

“I believe right now is the time to call Parliament back, put in place protections for workers, put in place an economic plan, and then let’s go to an election,” Singh said at a pre-campaign event in Esquimalt, B.C.

“We’re ready to go, but workers need some support right now. And these workers in the steel sector, the aluminum sector, do not have that protection in place right now. So we need that done first.”

Singh said those “protections” should include an expansion of employment insurance and an increase in EI payments.

Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May said that Carney should appoint a “wartime” cabinet focused solely on responding to U.S. tariffs and annexation threats.

“We are in an election imminently, and that’s appropriate. Canadians want an election, but I don’t think anyone wants to see us attacking each other in a way that opens up an opportunity for Donald Trump to take the upper hand. We are strong when we are united,” May told an Ottawa press conference.

May said that with a federal election expected soon, this cabinet should include representatives of all parties to present a united front against Trump.

Singh did not rule out the idea when asked but said his priority is ensuring there are supports for workers affected by the tariffs.

A spokesperson for Poilievre pointed to the Conservative leader’s earlier statement and tariff response plan when asked for comment on the idea of a unity cabinet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Mar. 11, 2025.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press