WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed new 50% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian imports, sharply escalating trade tensions with one of the United States' largest trading partners and citing what the administration described as discriminatory Canadian trade practices.
The White House said the measures were issued under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and will take effect on Aug. 19. The administration said the tariffs target a wide range of products, including goods such as wine, cement, clothing and sporting equipment, and will apply regardless of whether they qualify for preferential treatment under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Energy products, potash, fish, critical minerals and certain other goods are exempt, according to the White House.
The White House said the action was intended to respond to what it called Canada's discriminatory treatment of U.S. exports, particularly in the automotive, dairy and alcohol sectors. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration was acting to address measures it believes disadvantage American producers.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the move, saying the tariffs were part of a series of unilateral U.S. trade actions that Canada believes violate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. In a statement, Carney said Ottawa remained prepared to intensify negotiations with Washington while taking measures to support Canadian workers, businesses and families.
The latest action marks a significant escalation in the trade dispute between the neighboring countries. Additional responses from either government had not been announced at the time of publication, and the situation remained subject to further developments.
