International affairs minister Mélanie Joly

Canada’s International Minister Mélanie Joly has informed the BBC she believes Canada can win the commerce struggle which was sparked by a sequence of tariffs ordered by US President Donald Trump.

“We’re the most important buyer of the US,” Joly informed the BBC’s World Service Weekend programme. “We purchase extra from the People than China, Japan, the UK and France mixed.”

Joly stated tariffs and elevated costs are a precedence for Canadians as voters put together to move to the polls to elect a brand new prime minister later this 12 months.

The US president has imposed 25% tariffs on metal and aluminium imports from Canada. Trump has additionally vowed to impose a sweeping vary of “reciprocal” tariffs on 2 April.

Joly stated that as a result of the US and Canadian economies are so intertwined, “we’ve probably the most leverage on this planet relating to the US”.

She famous it’s not simply Canadians feeling the ache from tariffs, however “hardworking People” too.

However Joly stated it may very well be People who’re probably the most profitable in urging an finish to the commerce struggle.

“We expect that finally the one ones that can be capable to assist us win this struggle… are the People themselves as a result of they’re those that may ship a message to their lawmakers,” she informed the BBC.

“We will win the hearts and minds of People, as a result of finally they’re those paying for this” she added, noting that each American and Canadian jobs are in danger due to the tariffs.

The commerce struggle is anticipated to be on the forefront of Canadians’ minds once they head to the polls of their first federal election in practically a decade.

Studies counsel Prime Minister Carney may name for a snap election on Sunday. That election is anticipated to be held on 28 April.

And it’s not simply the Liberals making the case in opposition to US tariffs, Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre has additionally been on the commerce struggle. He has argued he’s finest outfitted to tackle Trump.

“There isn’t any good cause to do that to those good individuals,” Poilievre stated earlier this week. “Cease the tariffs, cease the chaos.”

Trump has vowed to impose additional tariffs Canada, and different international locations around the globe, on 2 April – calling these tariffs “the large one”.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to impose reciprocal tariffs if Trump’s tariff threats come to fruition.

It can convey to move a weeks-long forwards and backwards between the North American international locations.

The frustration over commerce struggle has led some Canadians to begin protesting.

In Toronto on Saturday, Canadians held an “elbows up” protest to push again in opposition to President Trump’s said need of constructing Canada the 51st state of the US, and the continuing commerce struggle.

The phrase, utilized in hockey to explain defending oneself or preventing again, has been repurposed by protesters in Canada.

Within the BBC World Service Weekend interview, Joly was additionally requested in regards to the upcoming federal election.

She stated the Liberal celebration is “very eager” to verify Canadians give the celebration “a transparent mandate” to cope with Trump and the specter of tariffs.

Joly stated Canadians are “preoccupied” by what is occurring within the White Home and they’re searching for a primary minister who has “sturdy values”.

The race will probably come right down to a alternative between Carney and Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre.

Tariffs are a central a part of Trump’s general financial imaginative and prescient.

He says tariffs will enhance US manufacturing and defend jobs, elevating tax income and rising the home economic system.

He additionally desires to revive America’s commerce steadiness with its international companions – lowering the hole that exists between how a lot the US imports from and exports to particular person international locations.

However he has refused to rule out the prospect of a recession because of his commerce insurance policies, which despatched US shares sharply down within the days earlier than the metallic tariffs took impact.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later stated the tariffs had been “price it” even when they did result in an financial downturn.

Trump’s tariffs initially focused items from China, Mexico and Canada.

These accounted for greater than 40% of imports into the US in 2024.

However Trump has accused the three international locations of not doing sufficient to finish the movement of migrants and unlawful medication comparable to fentanyl into the US.

All three international locations have rejected the accusations.