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Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Jolly told the BBC he believes Canada can win a trade war caused by a series of tariffs ordered by US President Donald Trump.
“We are the largest client in the United States,” Jolie told the BBC’s World Services Weekend Program. “We buy more from Americans than China, Japan, the UK and France combined.”
Jolie said tariffs and prices are a priority for Canadians as voters prepare to head to vote to elect a new prime minister later this year.
The US President imposes a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. Trump also vowed to impose a series of “mutual” tariffs on April 2nd.
Jolie said that the US and Canada’s economy are so intertwined that “the US has the most leverage in the world.”
She noted that Canadians feel not only pain from tariffs, but also “hardworking Americans.”
But Jolie said she could be the most successful American in spurring an end to the trade war.
“I think that’s the only thing we can help win this war in the end… because they’re the ones who can send a message to their lawmakers,” she told the BBC.
“We can win the hearts and hearts of Americans because in the end they’re paying for this,” she added.
The trade war is expected to be at the forefront of Canadians’ minds as they head to the polls.
Reports suggest that Prime Minister Carney could seek a snap election on Sunday. The election is scheduled to take place on April 28th.
And it’s not just liberals who make claims against US tariffs, but also conservative leader Pierre Poilierble has joined the trade war. He insisted that he was the best place to take on Trump.
“There is no good reason to do this for these good people,” Poilliebre said earlier this week. “Stop the tariffs and stop the confusion.”
Trump vowed to impose further tariffs on Canada and other countries around the world on April 2 – calling these tariffs “big things.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to impose mutual tariffs if Trump’s tariff threats come true.
It will be heading for weeks between North American countries.
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Frustration over the trade war has led some Canadians to launch protests.
In Toronto on Saturday, Canadians held a “elbow lift” protest to oppose President Trump’s stated desire to make Canada a ongoing trade war with the 51st US state.
The phrases used to describe protecting oneself or fighting back in hockey are being reused by Canadian protesters.
In a BBC World Services Weekend interview, Jolie was also asked about the upcoming federal elections.
She said the liberals are “very enthusiastic” to ensure Canadians give “clear obligations” to the party to deal with Trump and the tariff threat.
Jolie says Canadians are “famous” at what’s going on in the White House, and they’re looking for a prime minister with “strong values.”
The race will come down to a choice between Kearney and conservative leader Pierre Polyeive.
Why is Trump using tariffs?
Tariffs are central to Trump’s overall economic vision.
He says tariffs will protect US manufacturing and employment, raise tax revenues and expand the domestic economy.
He also wants to restore the trade balance with his foreign partners in the US. This wants to reduce the gaps that exist between how much the US imports and exports to individual countries.
However, he refused to rule out the prospect of a recession as a result of his trade policy.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick later said tariffs were “worthy” even if they led to a recession.
Trump’s tariffs initially targeted goods from China, Mexico and Canada.
These accounted for more than 40% of US imports in 2024.
But Trump has accused three countries of not doing enough to end the flow of illegal drugs such as immigration and fentanyl in the United States.
All three countries have refused to file charges.
