Trudeau appears on CNN to make the case against tariffs to American audiences

For the first time since US president Donald Trump threatened heavy tariffs on Canadian goods, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his argument against import tariffs directly to the American people.

Trudeau told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview Thursday afternoon that a 25 percent tax on Canadian products would hurt both countries.

“We have so many resources in Canada – more than our market can support – so we export them to the closest friend who can trust them. It's a win,” he said.

In Trudeau's first interview since announcing his resignation as prime minister earlier this week, Tapper asked Trudeau about Trump's recent comments that he should Canada becomes the 51st state.

“That's not going to happen. Canadians are very proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves more easily is, 'Well, we're not American,'” said prime minister.

Trudeau said he believes Trump's comments are intended to distract from the expected economic collapse of tariffs if the president-elect makes good on his threat.

“All of a sudden everything that American consumers buy from Canada is going to be a lot more expensive and that's something we need to focus on a little bit more,” he said.

Ottawa is preparing a list of hundreds of American-made products – including steel, plastics and orange juice – that Canada is considering hitting with retaliatory tariffs, according to a senior Canadian government source.

Trudeau told Tapper that the government was preparing to strike back if Trump followed through on his tariff threat, as Canada did during his previous administration.

The prime minister was in Washington on Thursday for the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter. Trump was also in attendance but the two did not speak. Speaking briefly to reporters, Trudeau repeated much of what he said on CNN and did not take any questions.

While this is Trudeau's first appearance on American network television since Trump issued his threat of tariffs, some of Canada's top players – notably Ontario's Doug Ford and Alberta's Danielle Smith – have made several appearances in the past a few weeks to raise the case against taxes.

Poilievre explains his plan to deal with Trump's threats

Just minutes before Trudeau's interview, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a campaign-style press conference in which he outlined how he would counter Trump's threats.

Among the points he made in his prepared remarks, Poilievre said he would bring more energy to fuel America's tech industry, lower taxes to encourage investment in Canada and make the economy “more independent and more vulnerable to threats from abroad.”

“We will stand and declare clearly that Canada is a sovereign and independent country – that we will defend our integrity as a country through strength,” he said.

Poilievre also vowed to take the case against tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders.

“We should go to American workers in the Midwest and their union and business leaders and say, 'How many jobs are you willing to lose by hitting Canadian energy with tariffs?'” he said. .

While fielding questions from reporters, Poilievre was asked if he has or plans to speak to Americans to make his case against tariffs.

“Look, I'm not the prime minister. I respectfully ask the people of Canada to serve them in that capacity,” he said in response.

Poilievre – who has a large lead over the Liberals in the polls – called on Trudeau to call an election immediately.

“I need the mandate, the mandate to put our country first, to defeat the Americans,” he said.

Thursday was the first time Poilievre has spoken to reporters since Trudeau announced his resignation. The Tory leader said it didn't matter who the Liberals choose as their new leader because “they're just like Justin.”