US President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, accusing Canada of unfairly discriminating against American automobiles, alcohol and dairy products in a move that could sharply escalate trade tensions between the two countries.
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According to a senior administration official, the tariffs have been imposed under Section 338 of the Trade Act of 1930, after Trump signed three proclamations authorising the measures. The official said Canada was among the few countries, alongside China, that retaliated against Trump's earlier tariffs and "must be held accountable."
The new tariffs exempt energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but apply to many goods that were previously protected under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade pact, which came into force in 2020, recently expired, prompting fresh negotiations that could continue until 2036.
The latest move is expected to heighten economic uncertainty, raising concerns over higher inflation and further straining ties between the United States and Canada, whose economies have long been closely integrated.
The administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while previewing the announcement, also said Trump had directed his aides to examine the possibility of imposing additional tariffs on Canada, arguing that Canadian wildfires had worsened air quality in the United States.
Last year, several Democratic lawmakers proposed repealing Section 338 of the Trade Act, arguing that the provision could be used by Trump to destabilise the US economy through unilateral tariff actions.
