Key facts
- The U.S. will ban Canadian dairy products, alcohol, and motorcycles effective in three weeks.
- New 50% tariffs will be imposed on various Canadian goods, including cheeses and manufacturing materials, starting September 15.
- The bans are a response to alleged discrimination against U.S. commerce in dairy, alcohol, and motor vehicles.
- Canada has previously enacted retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. imports.
- President Donald Trump is also prohibiting Canadian products from large, long-term U.S. government contracts.
President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs and outright bans on various Canadian goods as a trade war between the two nations escalates. The bans, which will take effect in three weeks on September 29, target Canadian dairy products, most alcoholic beverages, and some motorcycles. Additionally, new 50% tariffs are set to be imposed on a range of Canadian cheeses, manufacturing materials, golf carts, and furniture starting September 15.
The White House stated that the bans were implemented "in response to continued discrimination against the commerce of the United States" concerning dairy, alcohol, and motor vehicles. This action marks the latest development in an ongoing trade dispute that began last year with broad U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. Tensions heightened last month when the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on items including alcohol and construction materials after negotiations failed. Canada retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S. goods, which took effect on Tuesday and affected products such as cheese, honey, and aluminum foil.
Alcohol emerged as a significant point of contention when some Canadian provinces removed American alcohol from shelves in response to earlier U.S. tariffs. Trump specifically cited Canada's treatment of American alcohol in announcing the new ban, which could affect popular Canadian-made products like whiskies in the U.S. The trade war has led Canada to develop a strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on the U.S. market, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.