Canada vows dollar-for-dollar response to Trump’s 50% tariffs

Canada has vowed to match U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods on a dollar-for-dollar basis in response to President Donald Trump's new 50% tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late Friday. This move came after Ottawa suspended trade negotiations with Washington and recalled its negotiating team, citing recent changes to the U.S. position as unfair, uneconomic, and raising questions about the reliability of any agreement.

The U.S. tariffs, which are effective as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Saturday, apply to billions of dollars' worth of Canadian goods. While Trump initially claimed "we have a deal" with Canada, Canadian officials were cautious, stating that final details and legal language still needed to be finalized. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, B.C. Premier David Eby, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith all expressed support for Canada's strong response, warning that the tariffs will hurt businesses, workers, and families on both sides of the border.

Business groups also cautioned that the tariffs would negatively impact North American competitiveness and could force small exporters to reassess orders and staffing levels.