Canada Slaps Tariffs on US Exports Amid Escalating Trade Tension

Canada has activated its tariffs against the US in response to escalating bilateral tension. The tariff response comes into effect on September 8, imposing levies of between 15% and 50% on various U.S. exports, including steel and aluminum products, dairy, fish, and seafood. The new rates will be applied to a volume of $27.6 billion Canadian dollars ($17 billion euros), as a direct countermeasure to the tariffs previously imposed by Washington.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that Toronto's reaction does not seek to escalate the clash with the US, but rather to protect its economy in the face of aggressive trade policies. He pointed out that Canada is stronger and more united than ever before and has increased its exports outside the US significantly, which are expected to double in the next decade.

The relationship between goods affected by the tariffs includes over 800 categories, with a 25% tariff on various species of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans from the US. A 50% tax will be imposed on purchases of milk and cream, honey and molasses, perfumes and colognes, and clothing for men and women.

US President Donald Trump has been increasingly belligerent towards Canada, signing an executive order that renamed Lake Ontario as Lake America. He hinted in social media posts that Canada should integrate into the US, a tactic already used with other countries.