Trump to impose 35 per cent tariff on Canadian goods

In a letter posted on social media, U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to slap a 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods starting Aug. 1.

“The United States imposed tariffs on Canada to deal with our nation’s fentanyl crisis, which is caused, in part, by Canada’s failure to stop drugs from pouring into our country,” Trump said in the letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “Instead of working with the United States, Canada retaliated with its own tariffs.”

The letter went on to say that “if for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 35 per cent that we charge.”

Trump said the flow of fentanyl is “hardly the only challenge we have with Canada,” citing the “many” tariffs, non-tariff, polices and trade barriers which he said cause “unsustainable trade deficits against the U.S.”

Carney responded on social media, saying, “Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries.”

The Canadian national director of the United Steelworkers union (USW) condemned in the strongest terms Trump’s threat to impose a sweeping 35 per cent tariff by Aug. 1, calling it a reckless and vicious attack in an already out-of-control trade war.

“This is outrageous. Canadian workers will not be bullied,” said Marty Warren, USW national director. “These tariffs are a blatant assault on Canadian workers and everything we build in this country.”