U.S. President Donald Trump today slapped 50% tariffs on the majority of Canadian imports, citing unfair trade discrimination against American products, particularly automobiles, dairy, and alcoholic beverages.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior administration official confirmed the action to international media outlets, including the Associated Press. The official stated that Canada was targeted because it was one of the few trading partners, alongside China, that actively retaliated against earlier U.S. tariffs.
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To implement the retaliatory measures, Trump signed three executive orders invoking provisions under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
The new 50% duties exempt critical minerals, energy products, potash, and seafood. However, they apply to goods previously protected under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The 2020 trade pact recently expired, opening up a fresh wave of renegotiations that could stretch until 2036.
