OTTAWA — The race to replace Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dominated by one name: Donald Trump. How to wrestle with the incoming president and his tariff threats has emerged as the defining question in the Liberal Party leadership contest.

As Donald Trump teases steeper tariffs on Canadian products, Canada readies its $37 billion in retaliatory measures and politicians begin debating the move. Targets will likely be critical minerals with national unity and economic ties to the center.

Canada’s political leaders have responded to Trump’s threats to use “economic force” to transform Canada into the US’s 51st state with doubled-down pledges of fealty to the Canada-US military-strategic partnership,

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says if “push comes to shove” Canada is ready. Ottawa has a set of retaliatory measures set to drop on Monday if Trump takes action, a senior federal source told POLITICO on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details publicly.

By David Ljunggren (Reuters) - Canada's ruling Liberal Party is looking for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced on Jan. 6 he intended to step down. The Liberal Party will pick a new chief on March 9.