Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister, unexpectedly resigned on Monday due to disagreements with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over how to address US President-elect Donald Trump’s looming tariff threats. In a letter shared on X, Freeland expressed concern about the 25 percent tariffs Trump planned to impose on Canadian imports, describing the situation as a serious challenge for Canada. She revealed that, over the past few weeks, she and Trudeau had clashed over the best approach to take in response.
Freeland, who was first elected to Parliament in 2013 and joined Trudeau’s cabinet in 2015, has held several key positions, including trade and foreign minister, and was instrumental in leading free trade negotiations with the US and the EU. However, in her resignation letter, she explained that Trudeau had proposed reshuffling her to a different role, a move she could not accept. She concluded that resigning was the only viable option.
As finance minister, Freeland emphasized the importance of taking Trump’s tariff threats seriously. She argued that Canada needed to maintain fiscal reserves to prepare for potential economic fallout from a tariff war. She also warned against political gimmicks that could undermine Canadians’ confidence in the government’s response, stressing the gravity of the situation. With the US being Canada’s largest trading partner, Freeland’s resignation adds further complexity to an already tense trade relationship.
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