Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that a border plan has led to a pause in threatened U.S. tariffs.
Trudeau announced on Monday afternoon that following a call with President Donald Trump, Canada will launch a $1.3-billion border security plan.
"Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border," said Trudeau via his official X account.
Trudeau said Trump has agreed to pause any tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days while the plan is implemented.
The prime minister also announced a new strategy to fight the importation of fentanyl into the States.
"Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering," said Trudeau. "I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million."
Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford praised the announcement of the pause on social media late Monday afternoon, saying that any tariffs will hurt everyone involved.
"We have temporarily averted tariffs that would have severely damaged our economy, giving time for more negotiation and time for cooler heads to prevail," said Ford via X. "Thank you to the countless workers, union leaders, businesses, and everyday, proud Canadians who rallied together to make this happen."
Ford added that with the pause in tariffs, there will also be a pause in any retaliatory measures. The LCBO will continue to allow American-made alcoholic beverages to be sold at its outlets. It will also put on hold a decision to stop American companies from bidding on Canadian contracts, such as the $100-million plan from Elon Musk's StarLink to provide internet service to thousands of Ontarians in rural and remote areas.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles also put out a response.
"We need to defend every single job and be ready to fight back," said Stiles. "We need to invest in workers, buy Ontario, and help our industries find new markets, so we aren't so vulnerable in the future."