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Trudeau Slams Tariffs on Aluminum, Steel: 'These Tariffs Are Totally Unacceptable'

May 31, 2018

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday annoucened retaliatory tariffs against the United States while slamming newly announced U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel.

Trudeau announced $16.6 billion in retaliatory tariffs while speaking alongside Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, the Detroit Free Press reports.

President Donald Trump announced Thursday he would apply tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum for materials imported from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.

"Let me be clear: These tariffs are totally unacceptable," Trudeau said. (Note: the video above is clipped to cut out Trudeau speaking French).

The Canadian prime minister said that "For 150 years, Canada has been America's most steadfast ally," and mentioned that from Normandy to Afghanistan, the U.S. and Canada "have fought and died together."

He called the tariffs an affront to the security partnership between Canda and the United States and to Canadians who have died fighting alongside Americans.

Trudeau finished his speech by saying "Americans remain our partners, friends, and allies. This is not about the American people. We have to believe that at some point their common sense will prevail."

"But we see no sign of that in this action today by the U.S. administration," he said.

Several Republican senators criticized the Trump administration for levying tariffs on key U.S. allies.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Penn.) called it "bad news" and predicted retaliation, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) said there is "mounting evidence that these tariffs will harm Americans" and Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) warned similar policies sparked the Great Depression.