US to impose import bans and 50% tariffs on goods from Canada
US President Donald Trump announced a ban on imports of certain Canadian goods and 50% tariffs on other products from Canada. As Deutsche Welle English reports, the White House described this as a new step in the trade confrontation between Washington and Ottawa.
What restrictions the US will introduce
Starting September 29, the United States plans to ban imports of dairy products, motorcycles and alcoholic beverages from Canada. From September 15, a 50% tariff will apply to additional categories of Canadian goods, including mattresses, motorboats and golf carts.
The White House said that the alcohol ban is partly a response to the boycott of American liquor in Canadian provinces. As part of the boycott, many American wines and spirits were removed from store shelves, and Trump called these actions discriminatory.
A senior US administration official, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the decision is intended to ensure a level playing field, deter retaliatory measures and protect American manufacturing.
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Canada’s response and the USMCA agreement
The new US measures were announced after Canada on Monday imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on American goods worth about $20 billion, or €17.2 billion. This came in response to the 50% tariffs imposed by Washington last month on certain Canadian goods.
Trump also instructed the US General Services Administration to exclude Canadian products from long-term government procurement contracts unless Ottawa restores, in his words, full and fair reciprocity for American farmers and companies. On Monday, he also threatened to block sales of aircraft made by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier in the United States unless the company produces them in the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the country would accelerate efforts to reduce its dependence on the United States. According to him, the goal is to ensure that no country can hold Canada hostage and that it can live as it wants.
This year, almost 68% of Canadian exports were sent to the United States, and about 80% of those shipments entered duty-free thanks to exemptions under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The escalation of the dispute also creates uncertainty over the future of this trilateral trade agreement.
