Trump Hits Back at Canada as Tariff Dispute Escalates

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has criticised Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new tariffs on American goods following the failure of recent trade talks between the two countries.

Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday, saying Canada wanted the benefits of being a US state without actually becoming one. He also accused Canada of imposing high tariffs on American farmers for many years and warned that the situation would no longer continue.

The latest dispute comes after new 50% US tariffs on Canadian products came into effect on Saturday. The tariffs affect around $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, representing about 5.5% of Canada’s exports to the United States.

In response, Carney announced that Canada would introduce its own tariffs on US imports starting September 8. He said the measures were necessary to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses.

The decision followed several days of difficult negotiations between Washington and Ottawa. However, the two sides failed to reach a new trade agreement by Friday, raising fresh concerns about their already strained relationship.

The US tariffs affect a wide range of Canadian products, including wine, furniture, dairy goods, cement, clothing, fishing equipment and hockey products. Canadian goods covered by the new duties will not receive the protection previously provided under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Carney said Canada would respond to the US measures “dollar for dollar” and would not accept terms that he considered unfair.

The growing dispute could also create uncertainty for the future of the USMCA, a major trade agreement linking the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico.