Freeland pledges dollar-for-dollar tariff retaliation in Liberal leadership launch – National [Video]

Former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland officially launched her campaign for the Liberal Party leadership on Sunday with a speech that touted her as the candidate best positioned to stand up to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

Speaking in front of about 200 supporters at the St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club in Toronto, Freeland highlighted her experience as both foreign and finance minister, and pledged to match Trump’s threatened 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports “dollar-for-dollar” to deliver “the biggest trade blow the United States has ever endured.”

“We won’t pick a fight with you. We don’t want a fight with you. But if the fight comes to our door, remember, we love our country just as much as you love yours,” Freeland said, referring to Trump.

“Canada is not for sale and our sovereignty is not negotiable. So if you hit us, we will hit back.”

Freeland led Canada’s delegation during the renegotiation of the North …