Tariffs, Canada: new tariffs against the US from 8 September
The announcement was made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following the entry into force of the 50 per cent surcharges imposed by Washington
Canada responds to the United States on the issue of tariffs. From 8 September, Ottawa will introduce new tariffs on US imports, following the entry into force of the 50 per cent surcharges imposed by Washington. The announcement was made by the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, following the breakdown of trade negotiations between the two countries.
The retaliatory measures will affect, amongst other sectors, steel and dairy products from the United States. Details will be announced in the coming days, Carney explained, adding that the new tariffs will come into force on the Tuesday following Labor Day.
The Canadian Prime Minister emphasised that Ottawa would have preferred to avoid a further escalation of the trade dispute. He explained that the decision had been taken ‘with reluctance’, not least because the consequences of the dispute would ultimately be borne by certain US states.
However, the main reason behind the decision is the failure of the negotiations with Washington. According to Carney, the conditions put forward by the United States were too onerous compared with the concessions offered. “They asked too much of us and offered too little”, the Prime Minister summarised.
Carney then drew a red line regarding the dispute with Washington: Canada, he assured, is not prepared to compromise its sovereignty in order to reach a trade agreement. Finally, the Prime Minister also expressed doubts about the reliability of the commitments made by the United States, noting that at times their signature on agreements seems to be ‘written in pencil’.
