After threatening new tariffs against Canada last week, U.S. President Donald Trump has followed through, imposing 50 per cent tariffs on “certain goods of Canada” in response to alleged discrimination.
A statement from the White House claims that the tariffs are in response to Canada’s “discriminatory treatment of American products.”
“By doing so, President Trump is offsetting the burden and disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada’s discriminatory treatment of U.S. commerce and is leveling the playing field for crucial American exports—cars, alcohol, and dairy,” the statement said.
Today, Trump signed three proclamations pursuant ot Section 338 of the Tariff Act, which will impose the 50 per cent tariff on a different set of Canadian imports, including hockey sticks and cement.
It will not apply to other goods like energy, potash, fish, and critical minerals.
The tariffs are set to take effect 30 days after the signing.
In a separate decision, to secure fair treatment for American exports, the White House statement claims that the tariffs will hold Canada accountable for its “continued discrimination against and unreasonable and unequal treatment of U.S. commerce that has burdened and disadvantaged hardworking Americans.”
The White House statement also mentions the tariffs Canada imposes on cars imported to Canada from the U.S., adding that it does not do so on imports from other countries.
“Canada also administers these quotas in a way that compels U.S. auto companies to invest in production in Canada instead of the United States,” the White House said.
Last week, Trump said he wanted to hold Canada responsible for wildfire smoke in a post he made to his Truth Social platform.
The statement read, “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!”