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| Trump unleashes shock 50 percent tariffs on Canada in explosive trade war over wine, cars and hockey sticks day after friendly exchange with Mark Carney at World Cup final as PM responds | ||
| 2026-07-21 | ||
| [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Donald Trump revived his trade war with Canada on Monday, slapping a 50 percent tariff on America's neighbors to the north for most Canadian goods. Trump pulled the surprise on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after he met the liberal leader on Sunday at the World Cup final – where the two appeared chummy. Carney responded Monday night saying that the tariffs have hurt people on both sides of the border and that he was ready to work to strengthen his country and support Canadian workers. The White House said in a fact sheet that the tariffs would go into effect in 30 days and cover 'products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement.' The official said that Trump had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the US after Trump said they were 'coming in and poisoning our air.' It came after the President declared that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump's return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump's previous tariffs and must be held accountable. The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president's actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act. Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy. The 50 percent tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact recently expired and triggered a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036. 'Canada believes in the benefits of free and fair trade, as evidenced by our new government signing more than 20 new economic and security partnerships,' Carney said in a statement. 'This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S. Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens,' he added. 'In all circumstances, Canada will work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and to support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families.' Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw a possible showdown ahead. 'If these tariffs proceed, Canada should respond tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,' Ford posted on social media. Recently, Trump has also been demanding Canada and Carney pay 'damages' after wildfires spread down into America. Trump announced Sunday night that he had spoken with the prime minister about the wildfires in Ontario that have caused massive plumes of smoke to blanket cities across the States. The President said the conversation at the World Cup final went well, 'But I told him, 'You've got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air.' Our air's being poisoned. 'I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know, we got to stop the fires up there,' Trump said. 'If we can help them, we'll help them - but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or [we] should do some tariffs,' he then threatened. Trump went on to call the smoke 'terrible,' specifically pointing out the situation in Detroit, Michigan, where assembly line workers at Ford Motor's Michigan Assembly Plant were sent by ambulance to nearby hospitals on Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press. But the poor air quality was felt in other parts of the country as well, with smoky conditions being felt in Washington, DC and New York City on Thursday evening.
The President then made his first threat to impose tariffs on the US's northern neighbor that day. 'We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their forests and brush,' he wrote on Truth Social Friday.
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| Posted by:Skidmark |