‘Cut it Out!’ Canadian PM Candidate Torches Trump Tariffs — Says ‘Furious’ Canadians Are Ready to ‘Fight’

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland, a candidate vying to replace outing PM Justin Trudeau, told CNN Sunday her country’s citizens are “furious” and “hurt” after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on her country Saturday.

Canadian goods were slapped with a 25 percent tariff, while the country’s fuel exports were hit with a 10 percent tariff. Mexico and China were also targeted in the potential brewing trade war.

While speaking with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday’s GPS, Freeland said her country’s citizens feel a sense of betrayal and are ready to fight back.

Zakaria noted Freeland had discussed hitting the US back with 100 percent tariffs on some goods but was, for the time being, urging its citizens to avoid American products in stores.

The host asked, “Is it also are you also thinking in your proposals of doing something on oil? You know, we import a lot of oil from Canada.” She replied:

I’m glad you mentioned the boycott because that is already happening across the country. Americans have to understand how hurt and, frankly, how furious Canadians are. Our sovereignty is being challenged. So, yeah, regular Canadians across the country are coming up with ways to stand for Canada, to fight for Canada, to defend Canada. But mostly to say to our American neighbors, “Guys, just cut it out. Just stop it. This is a terrible idea.”

Zakaria noted Freeland had previously negotiated with Trump and asked her if she had a “sense” of him as Canadians respond to the tariffs.

“The pretexts for beating up on Canada are totally ludicrous,” she said. “I think we all do know one thing about President Trump. The one thing he respects is strength, and if he sees weakness, if he smells weakness, he pushes harder and harder and harder.”

Freeland concluded, “So, what you are going to see, what America is going to see, what the world is going to see from Canada is total strength, total unity, and a very smart, surgical, strategic approach.”

Earlier in the interview, Freeland said, “Our preference and our hope is that you guys are going to come to your senses.”

Watch above via CNN.