Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will work with Canadian steel and aluminium companies hit by punishing U.S. tariffs to make sure jobs and workers north of the border are protected.

In a CBC radio interview in Halifax this morning, Trudeau said he had spoken with steel and aluminum producers and assured them 鈥漷hat Canadian workers and communities continue to do OK despite these unnecessary and punitive actions from the United States.鈥�

Trudeau didn鈥檛 specify what that might mean in the wake of U.S. measures aimed at Canada, Mexico and the European Union that slap import duties of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum.

Asked about how the measures affect relations with the United States and President Donald Trump, Trudeau said it marked 鈥渁 bit of a turning point, but we鈥檝e always known that this administration is unpredictable.鈥�

Canada has responded by imposing dollar-for-dollar tariff 鈥渃ountermeasures鈥� on up to $16.6 billion worth of U.S. imports.

They come as the two countries, along with Mexico, are trying to hammer out a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement and after Trump sent a warning to Trudeau late Thursday that the days of the U.S. being taken advantage of in trade deals 鈥渁re over.鈥�

Trudeau was in Halifax to speak to the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

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