- Trump pronounces 35% tariffs on Canadian imports beginning Aug. 1, citing fentanyl and retaliation.
- Canadian PM Mark Carney defends Ottawa’s stance, saying progress has been made on fentanyl.
- Trump warns of upper tariffs if Canada responds with new duties.
Trump Slaps 35% Tariff on Canadian Imports
President Donald Trump introduced on Thursday that the U.S. will impose a steep 35% tariff on all Canadian imports beginning August 1. The announcement, made through a public letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Reality Social, comes amid escalating tensions over commerce. Trump criticized Ottawa for retaliating in opposition to earlier U.S. tariffs, stating that Canada “selected retaliation over cooperation.”
Fentanyl Blamed Amid Commerce Spat
Trump additionally cited the fentanyl disaster as a driving issue behind the transfer, linking Canada to what he described as failures in stopping the circulation of the lethal drug. His framing positions the tariffs as a matter of nationwide well being and safety, not simply commerce coverage. In response, PM Carney pushed again, stating that Canada has made “very important progress to cease the scourge of fentanyl in North America.”
Extra Tariffs Threatened If Canada Hits Again
The White Home signaled that additional tariffs could possibly be in retailer if Canada retaliates once more. Trump warned that any countermeasures would result in “even larger levies,” escalating the potential of a full-blown commerce struggle between the 2 nations. The dispute provides new volatility to North American commerce dynamics, simply as each economies navigate inflationary pressures and world instability.