TRENTON, Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that the US’ 25% tariff on steel and aluminum is “unacceptable” and “unjustified.”

Trudeau, who is in Paris for a global AI (artificial intelligence) conference, was reacting to the news Monday that US President Donald Trump had instituted tariffs on all imports of the two products, including those from Canada. The tariffs take effect March 4.

Since Canada is the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the US – $24.4 billion in steel and aluminum in 2024, according to the US Census Bureau – it is a severe blow to the Canadian economy and will result in massive job losses on both sides of the border.

“We will stand up for Canadian workers,” said Trudeau, CTV News reported. “We will stand up for Canadian industries.”

Still, while calling the tariffs “unacceptable” and “entirely unjustified,” Trudeau did not say if Canada would retaliate with tariffs on goods imported from the US.

The prime minister did say that Ottawa would “be working with the American administration over the coming weeks to highlight the negative impacts on Americans and Canadians of these unacceptable tariffs,” Global News reported.

The provincial governments are trying to get that message across, too, as premiers will go to Washington on Wednesday.

They will meet with key members of the new administration, Congress and business leaders in a bid to get rid of the steel and aluminum tariffs and to forestall tariffs on other goods.

“Americans and Canadians are like family,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a statement. Ford is heading the delegation to Washington. “We’ve been allies for generations.”