No mention of Canada as Donald Trump is sworn in as U.S. president on Inauguration Day, but tariff trouble still looms

U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech was being closely followed north of the border as Canadians were left perplexed by Trump making “no mention of Canada” on Jan. 20, 2025.

Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, marking his second, non-consecutive term in office. In his address, President Trump declared the onset of a "golden age of America," emphasizing a "revolution of common sense" aimed at revitalizing the nation. His speech addressed economic, immigration and social concerns while outlining several key promises for his second term.

Canadians up north listened closely, wondering if the new U.S. president would come through on his threats of imposing tariffs on Canada or even expand on his jibes of taking over Canada if the Justin Trudeau government does not deliver on his demands. To their surprise (and much relief), there was no mention of Canada.

However, in the lead up to Trump’s inauguration on Monday morning, media reports claimed the Republican will not impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico or China on his first day in office. Instead, it was reported that Trump directed agencies in a memo to "investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations."

From 'it was all a bluff' to 'I called it': Canadians react to Donald Trump skipping first day tariffs against Canada

As media reports hinting at a delay in tariffs against Canada on Trump’s first day in office surfaced online, reactions from Canadians poured in with many sharing their thoughts on the U.S. president’s decision in the final moments.

The general perception of Trump’s decision to delay the tariffs remains divided with some saying that he is never going to slap Canada with higher tariffs since he is only using the narrative as a negotiating tool. Others believe there could still be trouble brewing for Canada.

President Trump may have not directly mentioned Canada in his address, but he did make a passing reference to tariffs. He said he will "begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families," and pursue tariffs to "enrich our citizens" as part of a larger plan to usher in "a golden age of America."

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According to CBC and Canadian officials, Trump is considering three is considering three options: a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, a 10 per cent tariff on goods from all countries or an escalating tariff that starts low and rises over time.

If Trump does eventually move forward with tariffs, the impact could be hugely detrimental for the Canadian economy, leading to a potential recession and a billion-dollar hit to the GDP. The impacts could range from impacts on gas, to other industries such as primary metals, food and beverage. To curb the impact, Ontario has threatened to cut off energy exports, while Canada aimed to enact counter-tariffs that would apply to $37 billion in goods that would be less harmful to the Canadian economy.

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He previously proposed imposing high tariffs on imports from countries such as Canada, Mexico, and China to protect American industries.