In a major escalation of an ongoing trade conflict with Canada, US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he has directed his Commerce Secretary to apply double tariffs on all imports from Canada, raising them to 50%. His reply followed Ontario imposing a 25% tariff on electricity supplied to the US.
“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on “Electricity” coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
The tariffs will take effect on Wednesday (March 12), signaling an instant conclusion to the temporary suspension of tariffs that Trump had previously declared on Canadian products. Trump’s trade conflict with Washington’s three largest trading partners – Canada, Mexico, and China – has prompted swift backlash and disrupted financial markets.
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“This will allow the US to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada,” he added. He also threatened to “substantially increase” tariffs on cars coming into the United States on April 2 “if other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada.”
Since assuming office, Trump has warned Canada about tariffs and has vowed to turn it into the “51st US State,” sarcastically calling former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘Governor’ Trudeau. His comments have angered Canadians, who are jeering the American anthem at NHL and NBA matches.
Following Trump’s first announcement of tariffs, Canada declared retaliatory tariffs on imports valued at C$30 billion, while another C$125 billion in tariffs was suspended after Trump delayed his 25% tariffs last week due to the decline in stock markets.
This trade conflict has caused US-Canada relations to reach an unprecedented low. In his goodbye address, Trudeau cautioned that Canada confronts an “existential threat” from the United States.
