Canada hits back with 50% tariffs on US goods as trade war escalates
Canada announced retaliatory tariffs Tuesday against U.S. goods, escalating a trade war after negotiations with the Trump administration collapsed. The measures double existing counter-tariffs on American steel and aluminum to 50 percent and add new levies on roughly $27 billion worth of about 700 U.S. products, effective September 8. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the tariffs are "proportionate, targeted and strategic," designed to match U.S. actions "dollar for dollar, rate for rate." The new levies cover clothing, furniture, video game consoles and electronics, and are intended to protect Canadian industry and workers, not collect revenue. They follow Trump's 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian products that took effect Saturday. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Trump imposed last-minute "unfair" terms, while Trump threatened further 50 percent tariffs on Canadian vehicles and steel. Ontario Premier Doug Ford told Trump to "kiss my as**," prompting a personal attack from Trump, who also threatened to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America."