Canada is set to impose retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on products worth C$27.6bn imported from the US at 12.01am on Tuesday. The measures escalate a trade dispute between the two countries, Canada’s largest trading partner.
The Canadian government said the counter-measures respond to the United States’ decision to impose a 50% tariff on $27.6bn of Canadian goods effective 22 August.
Which products will face the tariffs?
The measures cover steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. These sectors have been among those most affected by US tariffs. For additional context, see “Mark Carney sets September 8 start for Canada’s US tariff response”.
Goods already in transit are excluded
Canada said its counter-measures will not apply to US goods that are in transit to Canada on the day the tariffs come into force.
Trade dispute has widened beyond tariffs
The tariff dispute has coincided with broader diplomatic tensions between US president Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. Carney urged the Trump administration last week to “start being serious” about the dispute. A related part of this story is covered in “Canada to match US tariffs after trade talks miss Friday deadline”.
Trade talks have also been strained by disagreements over French-language protections in Quebec. Carney said Canada would not accept a US trade deal that weakened those protections, while American negotiators have raised concerns about rules they say can disadvantage US businesses.
Trump has criticized Canada’s leadership and said last month that the US did not need Canada. Canada has rejected a symbolic US move to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The development of this issue can be followed in “Canada announces wide-ranging tariffs on American imports”.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.