US imposes 50 percent tariffs on $20bn in Canadian goods after talks fail

The United States has imposed 50 percent tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods following unsuccessful trade negotiations between the two nations. The deadline imposed by President Donald Trump expired at midnight Eastern Time (04:01 GMT) on Saturday without a deal being reached. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed that his country would retaliate with tariffs "dollar for dollar", stating that recent progress towards a favorable trade deal had not been sufficient to meet Canada's objectives.

In response, US Trade Representative Jamie Greer blamed Canada for the breakdown of talks, alleging that Canada had walked away from a deal and introduced new demands. The tariffs will affect around 5 percent of Canadian exports to the US, encompassing electronics, industrial machinery, and dairy products. This follows a series of tariff escalations between the two countries, with the US initially imposing tariffs in July over alleged "discriminatory treatment" of American products.

Experts warn that a 50 percent tariff could effectively price hundreds of Canadian goods out of the US market, potentially harming numerous Canadian businesses exporting those goods to the United States.