Canada Slaps Retaliatory Tariffs on $20 Billion in US Imports Amid Trade War

A trade war between Canada and the United States is escalating as both sides impose tariffs on each other's products. The Canadian government has implemented retaliatory duties of 15 percent, 25 percent, and 50 percent on $27.6 billion (US$20 billion) in imports from the US, including steel and aluminum products, dairy goods, and certain seafood items.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 50-percent tariffs on a similar value of Canadian products, citing 'discriminatory treatment' against US industries. Ottawa's pushback targets over $20 billion in US imports, with the added caveat that some seafood products were removed from the initial list.

Bombardier Aviation, a Quebec-based plane maker, is also under fire from Trump, who threatened to block sales of its aircraft in the United States unless manufacturing is moved to the US. The aerospace company claims to have created 'tens of thousands of jobs across the United States,' with direct employment in over 20 states.

Canada's economy remains heavily reliant on trade with the US, with nearly 60 percent of imports coming from its neighbor and around 70 percent of exports going to the US market. To mitigate the effects, Canada's government has unveiled an aid package of $7.5 billion (US$5.4 billion).