US imposes additional 50% tariffs on selected Canadian imports, accuses Ottawa of trade discrimination | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) imposed additional 50 percent tariffs on certain goods from Canada, referring to the additional tax as a response to Ottawa’s “discriminatory treatment” of American products.
The additional tariffs have been imposed on motor vehicles, dairy products and alcoholic beverages and are set to take effect 30 days after Trump signs a statement on the same.
The White House released a Fact Sheet on Monday sharing these details regarding the new tariffs for Canada.
“President Trump is taking steps to hold Canada accountable for its continued discrimination and disproportionate and unequal treatment of U.S. trade that has burdened and disadvantaged hard-working Americans,” the Fact Sheet said.
Level-playing tariffs on key US exports: Fact Sheet
The Fact Sheet revealed that Trump on Monday signed three proclamations under Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, which imposed additional 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, saying it was done to ensure a level playing field for key U.S. exports.
According to the statement: “Each Section 338 proclamation imposes a 50% tariff on a different set of Canadian imports, covering products from wine to hockey sticks to cement. These Section 338 tariffs apply to all covered goods, regardless of whether the goods originate in the USMCA.”
The fact sheet also states that Section 228 will not apply to potash, energy and commodities such as critical minerals.
“These Section 338 rates will not apply to energy, potash, products subject to duties under Section 232 and certain other goods such as fish or critical minerals,” the fact sheet said.
White House criticizes alleged discriminatory treatment of Canada
The paper also notes that Canada imposes tariffs and quotas on US auto imports that are not imposed on such products from other countries.
He also argued that these quotas are levied in such a way as to force US car manufacturers to invest in manufacturing in Canada rather than in the US.
It pointed out that Canada was one of only two countries over the past year and a half to choose to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs rather than negotiate a deal with the US, the other nation being China.
The Fact Sheet provides a number of examples that show how Canadian imports of US goods such as alcoholic beverages, cheese and motor vehicles have declined drastically.
The statement reveals that the motor vehicle sector witnessed a record decline of around 22 per cent or $5.6 billion compared to the same period in 2024-25 and also from March 2025 to February 2026, imports of US alcoholic beverages into Canada saw a decline of 81 per cent or $582 million compared to the same period in 2024-255.
“President Trump’s tariffs have resulted in 18 agreements that have opened new markets for US exports and restored reciprocity to US trade relationships. Yet Canada has chosen to discriminate against the United States rather than address Canada’s trade barriers,” the Fact Sheet said.
