Trump Orders New 50% Tariffs on Many Canadian Goods

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders imposing new 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, escalating trade tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The White House said the tariffs will take effect in 30 days and apply to products including wine, hockey sticks, and cement. However, energy products, potash, and goods already subject to sector-specific tariffs are exempt.

The Trump administration said the move is a response to what it described as Canada’s “discriminatory treatment” of American products, including alcohol, automobiles, and dairy goods. The new duties will also apply to products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), marking a significant shift in US trade policy.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the decision, saying Canada remains ready to intensify negotiations with Washington and modernize the USMCA. He argued that previous US tariffs violated the trade agreement and said Canada’s countermeasures were a legitimate response.

The latest tariffs were imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a legal provision that has never before been used to introduce tariffs. Trade experts say the measure is likely to face legal challenges, with some viewing it as a strategy to gain leverage in ongoing trade negotiations with Canada.

Business groups have expressed concern that the tariffs could trigger further retaliation and increase uncertainty for companies operating on both sides of the border. Industry representatives also warned that additional trade barriers could negatively affect businesses and consumers in both countries.