Blitz Bureau
U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 10 the United States would impose a 35 per cent tariff on imports from Canada next month.
In a letter released on his social media platform, Trump told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney the new rate would go into effect on August 1 and would go up if Canada retaliated. The 35 per cent tariff is an increase from the current 25 per cent rate that Trump had assigned to Canada and is a blow to Carney, who was seeking to agree a trade pact with Washington.
However, Carney on July11 reaffirmed his government’s commitment to defend the country’s workers and businesses in face of Trump’s threat, set to take effect on August 1. “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,” Carney said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister emphasised that Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America, an issue cited by Trump as justification for the imposition of tariffs. “We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries. 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,” Carney added.
Trump complained in his letter about what he referred to as the flow of fentanyl from Canada as well as the country’s tariff- and non-tariff trade barriers that hurt U.S. dairy farmers and others. He said the trade deficit was a threat to the U.S. economy and national security. “If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” Trump wrote.
Trump has broadened his trade war in recent days, setting new tariffs on a number of countries, including allies Japan and South Korea, along with a 50 per cent tariff on copper. In an interview with NBC News published on July 10, Trump said other trading partners that had not yet received such letters would likely face blanket tariffs.
