Canada to announce response to Trump's new tariffs

Canada announced its response to President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Tuesday, Aug 25, amid escalating tensions in their neighboring trade relationship. Canadian Finance, Industry, Labour, and other officials held a press conference in Ottawa to detail the country's answer to the new levies. Canada and the United States missed a deadline on Friday to avert new 50% US tariffs on selected Canadian goods after weeks of negotiations.

The duty took effect on Saturday, and Ottawa prepared retaliatory measures. Trump announced on Monday that he would double tariffs on Canadian autos starting next year to 50%. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said retaliatory tariffs would be effective Sep 8, targeting US steel and dairy industries, alongside sectors like agricultural equipment, paper, and electronics.

Carney emphasized that trade talks with Washington have always aimed to achieve the best deal for Canadians, not an agreement at any cost. He criticized the US for attempting to destroy major Canadian industries, including automotive, steel, and aluminium, through unfair negotiating terms. Meanwhile, US Vice President Joe Biden accused Canada of making unreasonable demands, particularly concerning the French language and Quebec culture.

However, a recent Angus Reid Institute poll showed that three-quarters of Canadians support Carney's decision to end the trade talks, though concerns about job security persist among some citizens.