Canada foreign minister won't run to replace Trudeau, cites US tariff threat

Published 01/10/2025, 11:10 AM
Updated 01/10/2025, 11:16 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly returns to a caucus meeting after a break on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 8, 2025.  REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Friday announced she would not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying she wanted to focus on the threat posed by potential U.S. tariffs.

Joly is the second cabinet heavyweight after Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc to cite her official responsibilities as the reason for staying out of the race to become leader of the ruling Liberal Party.

"The reality is I can't do both," Joly told reporters ahead of a meeting to discuss retaliatory measures if president-elect Donald Trump goes ahead with a threat to impose tariffs.

"My job is to make sure that we're ready should (he) decide to go on with his tariffs, and that's why I took the decision (not to run)," she said.

Trudeau, beset by months of party infighting over poor poll numbers, on Monday said he would quit once the party had chosen a new leader. The winner will be announced on March 9.

The Globe and Mail newspaper, citing sources, said former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and ex-Bank of Canada governor were likely to announce soon they would run.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly returns to a caucus meeting after a break on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 8, 2025.  REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo

Polls indicate that whoever wins will not be prime minister for long, given how far behind the Liberals trail the official opposition Conservatives after nine years in office. The next election looks set to take place at some point in May.

Other cabinet members mulling a run include Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Transport Minister Anita Anand and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.