Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 premiers will meet in Ottawa Jan. 15 to finalize a plan to respond to tariff threats from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, including discussing what the best targets are for Canada to retaliate with tariffs of its own.

The meeting comes as the federal and provincial governments are seized with responding to TrumpB次元官网网址檚 promise to slap an across-the-board import tariff of 25 per cent on Canada and Mexico on Jan. 20 and his escalating rhetoric about turning Canada into the 51st state.

TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office said earlier this week they were looking to meet in-person after two virtual first ministersB次元官网网址� meetings on TrumpB次元官网网址檚 tariffs took place in November and December.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, after meeting virtually with other premiers Wednesday, confirmed that meeting will happen and said Ottawa has provided a B次元官网网址渟mall listB次元官网网址� of proposed retaliatory tariffs. He would not reveal what they are.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 strategic for Canadians or Ontarians to hand out the list,B次元官网网址� Ford said. The premiers have a strong plan, but Ford said they want to hear what strategy the federal government has come up with. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 just make sure that we do everything in our power, I mentioned to the premiers, to avoid these tariffs,B次元官网网址� Ford said.

In 2018, after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum during his first term in the White House, Canada retaliated with tariffs on dozens of American exports tailored to cause maximum pain to Republican leaders in their home states, including whisky, chocolate, yogurt, and orange juice.

TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 announcement Monday that he will resign as prime minister as soon as the Liberals elect a new leader added some uncertainty to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 ability to respond, and prompted a new round of insults from Trump about TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 leadership. But Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has been at the forefront of the national response thus far, said Monday he wonB次元官网网址檛 seek the leadership so he can focus solely on it.

Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly said she hadnB次元官网网址檛 decided whether to run or not but said in making her decision she is weighing her responsibilities as foreign affairs minister and the need to confront TrumpB次元官网网址檚 threats. She was among several ministers who said Canada should not overreact to TrumpB次元官网网址檚 threats but should also not take them lightly.

B次元官网网址淲hen president-elect Trump talks, we need to listen and we need to take him very seriously. I never take his threats lightly, but at the same time we canB次元官网网址檛 take the bait,B次元官网网址� Joly said.

LeBlanc, who attended the dinner at Mar-a-Lago in November where Trump first made the 51st state quip, initially dismissed it as just a B次元官网网址渏oke.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 not how the government sees it now, with Trump continuing his taunts this week. Tuesday he said he would use B次元官网网址渆conomic forceB次元官网网址� to annex Canada and Wednesday posted a map of Canada and the United States online, with the American flag superimposed over both countries. Trump captioned it, B次元官网网址淥h Canada.B次元官网网址�

International Trade Minister Mary Ng said Wednesday that Trump is B次元官网网址渘otB次元官网网址� joking about the U.S. somehow absorbing Canada.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 not and we are taking it seriously and we will respond seriously as well,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut I have done a lot of work meeting Canadian businesses, American businesses, American legislators and they understand the importance of this relationship.B次元官网网址�

Immigration Minister Marc Miller repeated an earlier comment comparing TrumpB次元官网网址檚 rhetoric to an episode of the animated comedy South Park. He said heB次元官网网址檒l only start to worry if Trump appoints Eric Cartman, a foul-mouthed 10-year-old from the show, to the joint chiefs of staff.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 silly, itB次元官网网址檚 unbecoming of a president to say that, but we do have to take it seriously and we will continue to do that,B次元官网网址� he said.

In a post on X, Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault said TrumpB次元官网网址檚 comments B次元官网网址渕ust be taken seriously.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here is clearly no question of Canada becoming the 51st American state, but Mr. Trump will use every opportunity at his disposal to increase his balance of power,B次元官网网址� Legault wrote in French. B次元官网网址淎ll the more reason to keep a cool head and refuse to play the president-electB次元官网网址檚 game.B次元官网网址�

He said his responsibility is to protect QuebecB次元官网网址檚 economy from B次元官网网址渢he threat of tariffs that could cause significant damage.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淐ertainly weB次元官网网址檇 like to have less uncertainty in the federal government right now,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淗owever, Quebec and the rest of Canada are not without the means to act.B次元官网网址�

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said Wednesday that Trump has a history of making comments that start off as jokes but become policy.

B次元官网网址淭his is a strong and sovereign country, and it will always be a strong and sovereign country,B次元官网网址� Furey said. B次元官网网址淭o have, unfortunately, our best friend B次元官网网址� threaten our sovereignty is completely unacceptable.B次元官网网址�

B.C. Premier David Eby said heB次元官网网址檚 been having conversations with governors about how the tariffs would hurt both countries, including a call with Washington Governor Jay Inselee today.

B次元官网网址淎s always, Canadians stand ready to help our American friends when they are in need. However, we will never sacrifice our identity or independence to any other country in the world. And we will always stand strong against any threat to our people,B次元官网网址� Eby said.

Two former U.S. ambassadors to Canada also weighed in on how Canada should respond to the annexation threat.

Gordon Giffin, who served under former U.S. president Bill Clinton, said Trump has B次元官网网址済one too far.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the president-elect has become enamoured with the line and he is almost just reverting to it in an unconscious way,B次元官网网址� he said.

Giffin said Canada should be calm and firm in its response.

B次元官网网址淚 think Canada and Canadian leaders ought to be dismissive of it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 scowl and take offence. I would just be dismissive.B次元官网网址�

Bruce Heyman served as U.S. ambassador to Canada under former president Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. He also called on Canadian officials to keep their cool.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think everybody should be overreacting to this at this moment,B次元官网网址� Heyman said. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 overreact to every press conference and look at the opportunity you have ahead of you and work that diplomatically.B次元官网网址�