U.S. President Donald Trump is again threatening tariffs against Canada.
Trump signed three proclamations, according to the White House on Monday (July 20), that would impose additional 50-per-cent tariffs on certain Canadian goods “in response to Canada’s discriminatory treatment of American products.” The latest tariffs fall under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and include products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement.
The tariffs are set to take effect 30 days after signing.
Section 338, the White House says, allows the president to impose tariffs when a country “disadvantages U.S. exporters relative to the exports of another country to offset the disadvantage or burden on U.S. commerce.”
The White House pointed to Canada imposing certain tariffs and quotas on cars imported to Canada from the U.S., but not on imports from other countries. It also pointed to all but two Canadian provinces and territories – which includes B.C. – have stopped the purchase, distribution and selling of American alcohol products, but not on other countries.
The White House also adds the tariffs apply to all covered goods regardless of whether a good originates under CUSMA, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest tariffs.