As US President Donald Trump’s trade war unfolds, Canada is seeking to “put maximum pressure” on his administration by imposing counter tariffs, its foreign minister says.

“We need to defend ourselves. And so not only are we leading the charge, we’re the country at this point that has imposed counter tariffs the most against US goods,” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told Euronews in an exclusive interview.

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the country will Trump’s match 25% tariffs on foreign vehicles with a levy on US-made vehicles imported into Canada.

The move will apply to C$35.6 billion (€22.9bn) worth of imports, according to the Canadian government. The new countermeasures are in addition to previous retaliatory tariffs that Ottawa had imposed on about C$60 billion (€38.2bn) worth of US imports.

In her interview, Joly said: “We’re working with the EU, we’re working also with Asian partners, and we’ll continue to put maximum pressure (on the Trump administration).”

Joly, who reiterated that Canada remains the US’ biggest trading partner, spoke of her confidence that the American public disagrees with the actions of the Trump administration. She believes that they will play a key role in resolving the trade war.

“The only way for President Trump to back off on his trade war is for American people themselves to say: ‘It’s enough’. And they are the ones that can create the political pressure within their own system to make sure that that’s the case,” she said.

Canada’s foreign minister also highlighted the importance of a united NATO, stressing that geopolitical instability could exacerbate global tensions. She warned that adversaries such as China and Russia could benefit from any division among NATO allies.

“We need to fight for our own interests, maybe on a trade war, or making sure that we have a united NATO,” Joly said.

“Because ultimately, who is gaining from all this, the erosion of the international system or some tensions amongst allies, it is our adversaries. It is China and Russia,” she added.

“And so, as a diplomat, I’ll continue to engage with as many countries as possible to keep the world much as secure and safe space as possible.”