President Donald Trump's threats to impose punishing tariffs on Canada and Mexico may be part of a strategy to gain leverage ahead of new negotiations on a regional trade agreement, experts said.

The Trudeau government and regional leaders have put into place a retaliation strategy that's ready to go as leaders call for a national buy-Canadian response to President Donald Trump's tariff plans.

Donald Trump grabbed onto the idea of hitting Canada with tariffs almost immediately after November's election, and he hasn't let go since. The continued centrality of that country to the president’s tariff talk has been on full display during his first days in office,