The Canadian and Mexican architects of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement say Donald Trump's trade war has crossed a line that essentially wipes out the continental trade pact, as experts suggest the president's actions are meant to rattle America's closest neighbours ahead of a mandatory review.

A day into Donald Trump's North American trade war, the U.S. president remained adamant that tariffs would benefit America even as a key member of his team has floated that a compromise could materialize Wednesday.

Key members of Trump's team fanned out to TV news programs today to link the damaging duties to the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States.

In a news release late Monday, Trudeau said if U.S. tariffs come into effect as Trump planned, Canada will respond with 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods.

Canadians are waking up to a new and uncertain reality after U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline for economy-wide tariffs passed with no relent overnight, triggering a continental trade war.

Canada is bracing to see whether U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his threats of economy-wide tariffs — or whether another last-minute pause materializes, averting a North American trade war.

The White House official said that, as of now, tariffs against Canada would be going ahead Tuesday. That could change, the official added, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations.

Trump's executive order to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy, was delayed until March 4 after Canada agreed to introduce new security measures at the border.

Territorial premiers are making the case in Washington that Northern Canada is key to continental security, diplomacy and economic opportunity as Canadian leaders continue their diplomatic push against threatened U.S. tariffs.

It is the first time all 13 premiers have travelled to the American capital together.