CANADA’S outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to responding to proposed tariffs by US President-elect Donald Trump.

Mr Trudeau added that no single region of the country should be asked to bear the full brunt of that response.

Mr Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports.

“We have to respond to the challenge we’re facing,” Mr Trudeau said, following a five-hour meeting in Ottawa with Canada’s provincial premiers to discuss Mr Trump’s threats. 

“We also have to make sure the burden is shared across the country.

“We can’t punish just one region because tariffs have more impact on that region,” Mr Trudeau said.

Ontario’s premier Doug Ford said the provinces need to be united in their response to Mr Trump’s threats.

“The retaliatory tariffs need to be hard,” said Mr Ford, who spoke to the media prior to the meeting, wearing a hat that said that “Canada Is Not For Sale.”

“We have to send a message,” he said.

Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states. Goods and services worth nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (around £2.2bn) cross the border each day.