Trudeau, Trump agree to ‘pause’ trade war until March 1

What’s happening?

A Canada-U.S. trade war has been adverted — for now.

After conversations with President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X (formerly Twitter) that both countries agreed to “pause” their proposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods until March 1.

I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly…

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 3, 2025

However, on his way to the Super Bowl, Trump announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports — effective Feb. 10.

Trudeau and his team are aware of the update, but won’t be commenting until they see something official in writing from the president.

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Ontario pausing retaliatory measures

Premier Doug Ford announced that the province is pausing a suite of retaliatory measures that were set to take effect on Feb. 4.

In addition to removing U.S. alcohol from LCBO shelves, Ford said he would rip up a $100-million contract for satellite internet with Elon Musk’s Starlink service.

“We have some good news today. We have temporarily averted tariffs that would have severely damaged our economy, giving time for more negotiation and time for cooler heads to prevail,” the premier said in a post on X.

“Thank you to the countless workers, union leaders, businesses, and everyday proud Canadians who rallied together to make this happen.”

SEE ALSO
• Doug Ford warns Trump’s 25% tariff could cost Ontario ‘500,000 jobs’
• Trump’s 25% tariff could affect 29,000 agricultural jobs: OGVG

Canadians concerned about widespread layoffs

A number of employers have begun to scale back their staffing levels as they brace for Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

Why Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we’ve helped over 50,000 clients secure fair severance packages — recovering millions of dollars for non-unionized employees across Canada.

With extensive experience representing workers in roles at small businesses and large organizations across various industries, our team provides the expertise you need to navigate your termination effectively.

SEE ALSO
• Should I negotiate my own severance package in Ontario?
• What Albertans need to know about negotiating severance
• Negotiating severance in B.C.: What employees need to know

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