As Canadians celebrated the country91裸聊视频檚 birthday on Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on the road highlighting the stand he has taken against the U.S. government91裸聊视频檚 decision to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Speaking in Leamington, Ont., Sunday morning, Trudeau thanked residents and Canadians for always standing up for one another and for Canadian values.
91裸聊视频淭his is who we are, we91裸聊视频檙e there for each other in times of difficulty, in times of opportunity. We lean on each other and we stand strong and that91裸聊视频檚 what we do from coast to coast to coast,91裸聊视频� Trudeau said.
The Ontario town is one of three cross-country stops the prime minister scheduled on Canada Day, and one of two designed to reflect the looming trade war between Canada and the United States.
Trudeau met with workers at a major canning and food processing operation in Leamington, where the tomato paste used in French91裸聊视频檚 ketchup is made. Later in the day, he visited a major steel refinery in Regina. The two industries are at the heart of the trade dispute.
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Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 counter-tariffs on a range of products took effect on Sunday 91裸聊视频� a month after the Trump administration slapped duties on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from Canada and other allies.
Canada91裸聊视频檚 response includes imposing $16.6 billion worth of tariffs on a long list of consumer products that come from a wide range of sectors 91裸聊视频� from beer kegs, to ballpoint pens, to ketchup.
On Friday, Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone, reiterating that Canada has had 91裸聊视频渘o choice91裸聊视频� but to take countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs.
It appears Trump, too, is not backing down.
In an interview that aired Sunday morning, Trump said he will delay signing a revised version of the North American Free Trade Agreement until after the U.S. mid-term elections in November in hopes of reaching a better deal.
He said he could quickly sign an agreement with Mexico and Canada, 91裸聊视频渂ut I91裸聊视频檓 not happy with it. I want to make it more fair.91裸聊视频�
In the interview on Fox News Channel91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淪unday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo,91裸聊视频� Trump again threatened to impose tariffs on imported cars, trucks and auto parts, saying, 91裸聊视频淭he cars are the big ones.91裸聊视频� The move has been viewed as a possible negotiating ploy to restart NAFTA talks, which could resume following Sunday91裸聊视频檚 elections in Mexico.
U.S. tariffs on auto imports would be a major blow to Canada91裸聊视频檚 economy because of the importance of the auto industry plays in the country. The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to hold hearings on auto tariffs in late July and to complete its investigation into auto imports later this summer.
Despite the tense political rhetoric among leaders, Trudeau kept his remarks upbeat and patriotic on Canada Day as he spoke to a crowd in Leamington. He praised Canadians for their supportive attitudes in the face of a trade dispute with its largest trading partner.
91裸聊视频淭here is so much to be proud of as a country, but the thing we always have to be most proud of is Canadians ourselves 91裸聊视频� the way we step, the way we lean on each other, the way we91裸聊视频檙e creative and optimistic about the future, the way we look at challenges as opportunities, to grow, to build, to be there for each other. That91裸聊视频檚 the message we91裸聊视频檙e celebrating on Canada Day,91裸聊视频� he said.
Trudeau was speaking on the front steps of Highbury Canco with CEO Sam Diab.
RELATED: A look at the numbers behind Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 tariff reprisal against Trump
Diab said in an interview that the tomato-processing facility will face increasing cost pressures as a response to the Canada-U.S. trade dispute.
However, the company does not plan on laying off any workers or shrinking its production, Diab said.
Trudeau got a tour of the facility and the two spoke about the trade environment and how Diab supports Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 retaliatory tariffs.
91裸聊视频淲e just need closure so that we can move forward and companies can start investing again,91裸聊视频� said Diab, adding that the prime minister91裸聊视频檚 visit to the company made him feel more 91裸聊视频渃onfident91裸聊视频� in the market.
91裸聊视频淥ur company will survive no matter what.91裸聊视频�
Later in the day in Regina, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Canada91裸聊视频檚 tariffs were designed to offer a clear message that the Trump administration91裸聊视频檚 trade action against Canada is 91裸聊视频渋llegal and absurd91裸聊视频� and that Canada is responding, dollar-for-dollar, in retaliation.
91裸聊视频淲e will not just be victims of American policy, we91裸聊视频檙e going to fight back.91裸聊视频�
He said Trudeau wanted to be on the ground with steelworkers at a family event on the day Canada91裸聊视频檚 counter-tariffs came into effect to 91裸聊视频渕ake it really tangible what this is about.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not about corporate board rooms and decision-making at some 30,000-foot level. This touches families and lives and homes and communities.91裸聊视频�
Meantime, revellers on Parliament Hill who braved scorching temperatures to take in the festivities in Ottawa also expressed support for Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 hard line against Trump on trade.
Angela Egan said she feels Trump is trying to 91裸聊视频渂ully91裸聊视频� Canada into submission.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 glad that Justin Trudeau is standing up to him, because I feel like that91裸聊视频檚 his modus operandi, he just tries to bully to get his way and we need to stand up for ourselves,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚 think if you stand up to him, he91裸聊视频檒l back down.91裸聊视频�
Ian Cross of Prince Edward Island said he does not believe Canada-U.S. relations are being damaged too deeply by the current trade spat.
91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檒l get through this. Everybody has to go through different arguments and discussions. People do it, families do it, so I don91裸聊视频檛 think this is a big deal.91裸聊视频�
The prime minister ended his long Canada Day tour in the Yukon where he was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of about 600 people in Dawson City.
Arriving a little late, Trudeau waded slowly through the crowd that had gathered for a barbecue at the city91裸聊视频檚 Waterfront Park, shaking lots of hands and posing for photos and selfies.
Premier Sandy Silver and Mayor Wayne Potoroka were there as Larry Bagnell, Yukon91裸聊视频檚 Member of Parliament, gave Trudeau a rousing introduction as 91裸聊视频渢he first prime minister in decades who has been outside Ottawa on Canada day.91裸聊视频�
Sounding a little hoarse, but still energetic, after his cross-country day of speech making, the prime minister said it was great to be back in the Yukon.
91裸聊视频淗appy Canada Day, Dawson City,91裸聊视频� he shouted to his cheering audience.
91裸聊视频淵ou know, I91裸聊视频檝e been right across the country all day, starting in Leamington, Ontario, through Regina, Saskatchewan, and ending here, and the sun is a long way from setting, so we91裸聊视频檝e got a lot of time to party still.91裸聊视频�
He then returned to his themes from earlier in the day, talking about Canadians being 91裸聊视频渢here for each other,91裸聊视频� looking to the future 91裸聊视频渨ith optimism and strength,91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渇acing down any challenges that come our way.91裸聊视频�
The Canadian Press
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