US president Donald Trump has slapped northern cousins Canada with a 35% tariff on imported goods, starting next month.
Fresh from imposing a mammoth 50 percent tariff on Brazil - which, notably, may affect our morning routines going forward due to Brazil's coffee and orange juice harvest - the 79-year-old informed Canadian prime minister Mark Carney of the upcoming levy in a letter uploaded to Truth Social yesterday (July 10).
According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, throughout 2024 the States traded approximately $762 billion (£562b) in goods with Canada.
In the letter, Trump also snuck in a scathing warning to the Land of Maple Syrup.
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"It is a Great Honour for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Canada, despite Canada having financially retaliated against the United States,” he wrote.
"As you will recall, the United States imposed Tariffs on Canada to deal with our Nation's Fentanyl crisis, which is caused, in part, by Canada's failure to stop the drugs from pouring into our Country. Instead of working with the United States, Canada retaliated with its own Tariffs.
"Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Canada a Tariff of 35% on Canadian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs," the president continued.
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He then warned his Canadian counterpart that 'goods transshipped to evade this higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff' and that if Canada retaliates, the rate will increase.
Further along, Trump claimed that Canadian firms opting to 'build or manufacture product within the United States' wouldn't be subject to tariffs and that his administration 'will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks'.
Eager to display full transparency, he went on to conclude: "If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter.
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"These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with The United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Carney himself responded via social media platform X, vowing to defend his nation's economic interests and help to curb the fentanyl horrors.
"Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1," his tweet began. "Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America.
"We are building Canada strong. The federal government, provinces and territories are making significant progress in building one Canadian economy. We are poised to build a series of major new projects in the national interest. We are strengthening our trading partnerships throughout the world."
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Fentanyl is an addictive drug responsible for close to 70 percent of America's overdose deaths in 2023. It is 50 times the strength of heroin.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Canada, US News, Tariffs, Business
Dan Seddon