Canada announces additional retaliatory tariffs on $20.7 billion of US goods

Canada has announced it will impose C$29.8 billion (£16.2 billion) in retaliatory tariffs on the United States from Thursday morning, in response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium, finance minister Dominic LeBlanc announced.

Trump’s increased tariffs on steel and aluminium imports took effect on Wednesday, following the expiration of previous exemptions, duty-free quotas, and product exclusions. His push to reshape global trade norms in favour of the US continues to gain momentum.

Canada remains the largest foreign supplier of steel and aluminium to the United States.

The Canadian retaliatory tariffs will target steel products worth C$12.6 billion, aluminium products worth C$3 billion, and an additional C$14.2 billion in other US imports, bringing the total to C$29.8 billion (£16.2 billion).

Among the affected products are computers, sports equipment, and cast iron goods, LeBlanc announced during a press conference.

This escalation in the US-Canada trade dispute comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to hand over power to his successor Mark Carney, who won the Liberal Party leadership race on Sunday.

On Monday, Carney stated that he could not engage in discussions with Trump until he is officially sworn in as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Trump took to social media once again, reiterating his desire for Canada to become “our cherished Fifty-First State.”