Joly said she remains 'cautiously optimistic' that a diplomatic solution can be reached to prevent the tariffs, but did not get any assurances that Trump has made up his mind.

Canada has pledged to spend $1bn on border security, and has recently deployed newly leased Black Hawk patrol helicopters, extra dogs and 60 drones at the border partly in response to Trump’s demands — as well as concerns about weapons and undocumented migrants arriving from the US.

TORONTO — Roughly $900 billion in annual trade between Canada and the United States — and, with it, traditionally chummy bilateral ties — is on the brink of upheaval, with President Donald Trump threatening to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada as early as this weekend.

Canada's foreign minister said Ottawa as well as the provinces and territories are working on both preventing tariffs and a potential response if those tariffs happen on Feb. 1.

Canada’s foreign minister is warning Americans they will be paying a “Trump tariff tax” if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with a threat of imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, with Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, speak to media at a Liberal Cabinet Retreat in Montebello, Quebec, Canada January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable

Canadian leaders expressed relief that broad tariffs were not applied to Canadian products on the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is ready to respond to tariffs from its top trade partner the United States on Monday if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose them, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Friday.

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Commerce Department has told US lawmakers that Canada and Mexico can avoid blanket tariffs if they close their borders to fentanyl. "As far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff," Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing before senators.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will press Canada’s case against damaging tariffs with Donald Trump’s new secretary of state next week in Washington. Trump is

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Donald Trump’s suggestion that ... LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly stepped out of a cabinet meeting in Montebello, Que.

Canadian Foreign Minister Warns of 'Trump Tariff ... elect Donald Trump follows through with a threat to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said that Canada ...