Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the trade war between Canada and the United States will continue in the near term, emphasizing that his country will not back down from imposing retaliatory tariffs unless Washington lifts the customs restrictions it has imposed on Canadian products.

This came after a phone call described as "frank but constructive" between Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump, where both sides discussed the economic implications of the reciprocal tariffs.

The United States had imposed a 25% tariff on some Canadian products, and Canada retaliated by imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods worth up to $20 billion, with the possibility of implementing more in the coming weeks.

Trudeau pointed out that the U.S. measures could lead to increased inflation rates and job losses in both countries, reaffirming his government's commitment to protecting the Canadian economy and the interests of workers in the affected sectors.

In contrast, Trump continued his criticisms of Trudeau, arguing that Canadian trade policies are unfair, while the recent talks between the two sides failed to reach an agreement to ease trade tensions.