CHICAGO (AP) — President Donald Trump's barrage of tariffs — and threats of even more — has strained the United States' longstanding relationship with Canada. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Over the course of his second term in office, Trump has threatened Canada's economy and sovereignty with steep new import taxes on its goods. He's gone as far as suggesting that his northern neighbor could be "the 51st state." That rhetoric — paired with volleys of on-again, off-again new tariffs — has outraged Canadians, whose government has responded with its own retaliatory measures. All the while, uncertainty for businesses and consumers across both sides of the border only grows.
Most recently, Trump followed through on a threat to impose 50% U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. Those levies kicked in Saturday after last-ditch negotiations failed, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly promised to match the new import taxes.
On his first day back in office, Trump says he expects to put 25% tariffs on imports from Canada. The president later signs an executive order to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada starting Feb. 4, 2025 — invoking this power by declaring a national emergency over undocumented immigration and drug trafficking. Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promises retaliatory levies.
But the tariffs soon get pushed back, cooling tensions at least temporarily. Trump first agrees to a 30-day pause, and more limited tariffs on Canadian imports kick in March 4.