Architects of US Trade Policy Turn Against Trump Over Canada Tariffs

Three former senior U.S. trade officials, including Carla Hills, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), have urged a federal court to strike down President Donald Trump's 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods. The trio argues that Trump's administration bypassed safeguards established by Congress by invoking Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which they claim has been superseded by Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The officials contend that Section 338 is effectively "dead" and that the administration should issue refunds to American importers. This legal challenge comes in response to Trump's announcement of additional tariffs on Canadian goods, which took effect on August 22, 2020, and prompted retaliatory tariffs from Canada on U.S. imports.

The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Canada and the potential implications for their trading relationship.

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