Eniola Yekini
The trade war between Canada and the United States has deepened over the imposition of fresh retaliatory tariffs by Canada on about $20 billion worth of US goods, igniting the ongoing trade dispute between Ottawa and Washington.
The new measures, which took effect early Tuesday, include tariffs of up to 50 per cent on American steel and aluminium, as well as duties on paper products, construction materials, appliances and agricultural goods.
The latest tariffs came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to bar Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from selling jets in the United States unless the company manufactures them domestically.
Trump said Canadian companies seeking access to the US market would be required to produce their goods in America.
Bombardier, however, said it already maintains a significant manufacturing presence in the United States and supports tens of thousands of jobs in the American aerospace industry.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended Ottawa’s retaliatory measures, signalling that Canada would respond to any further trade actions from the United States.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries last month, further straining relations between the longtime trading partners
The escalating tariff measures have heightened concerns about the economic consequences for businesses and consumers in both countries, as Canada and the United States remain deeply integrated through cross-border trade and supply chains.
The latest development threatens to deepen the economic impact of the ongoing US-Canada trade war and further complicate efforts to restore stable commercial relations between Ottawa and Washington.