Canada doesn’t want “melodrama every 30 days”: Joly on temporary tariff pause

Speaking to reporters in Montréal on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision – made earlier in the day – to temporarily waive some of the 25 per cent tariffs placed on Canada earlier this week.

She said the decision came after many “lengthy” discussions with the finance minister and the secretary of commerce and a “colourful” chat between Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Despite the pause on selective goods, Joly said Canada will stick to their counter-tariffs to establish a deal with the U.S. “that will stand.” “We don’t want to go through that melodrama every 30 days,” she said. “That’s why we’re keeping our tariffs. We’re making sure to put pressure on American businesses.”

Touching on repeated threats from Trump to make Canada the “51st state,” Joly said Americans should start respecting Canada. “You owe respect to our prime minister,” she said. “That’s what we expect. That’s enough of that rhetoric, enough of that disrespect.”