US imposes new 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian products
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed three proclamations to impose tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a nearly century-old trade law that allows tariffs of up to 50% on imports from certain countries.
Products covered by the tariffs range from wine to hockey sticks to cement, according to a White House fact sheet. The new tariffs will also apply to a variety of other products, including dairy products, swimming pools, furniture, fishing rods, seeds, clothing and wigs.
“While the Administration continues to pursue fair and reciprocal trade agreements with our trading partners, Canada, unlike other partners and allies, continues to retaliate against the United States for its efforts to rebalance trade and protect U.S. industry in sectors sensitive to national security,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. he said.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The announcement came just days after Trump blamed Canada for wildfire smoke spreading across the U.S. and threatened to add the “incalculable cost” of dealing with the pollution to existing tariffs on Canadian goods. The tariffs announced Monday will go into effect Aug. 19 and apply regardless of whether the goods qualify under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement; however, energy, potash, fish, critical minerals, and products currently covered by Section 232 tariffs are exempt.
The White House cited Canada’s “protectionist” dairy system as well as tariffs and quotas on cars imported into Canada from the United States but not from other countries as reasons for the tariffs. It also touched on the fact that most Canadian provinces have halted sales of US alcohol in response to previous US tariffs.
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Last year, Canadian imports of U.S. motor vehicles fell by 22% and U.S. alcoholic beverage imports fell by 81%, the White House said.
