Chrystia Freeland, a leading Canadian lawmaker and candidate to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has proposed imposing a 100% tariff on Tesla vehicles. This move is part of her strategy to counteract the trade tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. Freeland, who served as Canada’s finance minister before resigning in January, emphasized that her economic policy aims to deliver a strong response to the United States.

In an interview with CNN, Freeland outlined her plan to hit back at American stakeholders who support President Trump. “We are going after American businesses that matter to the White House,” she said. “I’ve proposed a 100% tariff on all Teslas, and I’m calling on other nations affected by these tariffs to join us. Our retaliation will target key Trump supporters.”

Freeland also criticized the dairy industry in Wisconsin, noting that its ties to Trump make it an important target in her trade retaliation strategy. “We won’t allow them to sell their products in Canada,” she added.

These remarks come after President Trump paused his tariff plans against Canada and Mexico, giving both countries time to negotiate and make concessions. Trump’s decision followed an agreement to delay tariffs while talks continue.

Freeland’s stance has been echoed by other Canadian politicians. Jagmeet Singh, a Canadian lawmaker, also called for a strong response to Trump’s tariff threats. “Elon Musk has been vocal in his attacks on our country, and we can’t let that go unchecked. If he’s going to take a shot at us, we’ll fight back,” Singh stated earlier this week. “If Musk thinks he can tweet whatever he wants, we’re going to put a tariff on him. This is about showing that we’re ready to defend our interests.”

Singh also reacted to Trump’s suggestion of making Canada the 51st US state. While Canadians are known for their politeness, Singh warned, “Don’t mistake our kindness for weakness. If Trump thinks he can bully us, we’ll show him that we’re prepared to stand up for ourselves. It might hurt both of our countries, but we have to make it clear that this is the wrong move.”

Freeland’s proposal along with Singh’s remarks, underscores the growing tension between Canada and the US. Both leaders stress the importance of standing firm in the face of economic pressure and ensuring that Canadian businesses and values are protected.

By targeting Tesla, an iconic US company, Freeland hopes to make a bold statement while working to safeguard Canada’s economic interests in the ongoing trade negotiations.