US Slaps Restrictions on $19.9bn Canadian Imports as Trade Row Deepens
The United States has announced fresh restrictions on a selection of Canadian goods, marking another escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the two North American neighbours.
The measures, revealed by the White House early Tuesday, cover products such as alcoholic beverages, molasses, motorcycles and dairy byproducts. The American Action Forum estimates the affected Canadian imports to be worth approximately $19.9 billion.
The new curbs add to a series of tariffs already exchanged by both countries on goods valued in the tens of billions of dollars.
Speaking on Monday, US President Donald Trump said he was confident Canada would ultimately concede to Washington's demands, predicting that Ottawa would seek a fresh agreement within weeks.
"They take advantage of us. They feel entitled. There's nothing they have that we need. I think what's going to happen is over the next three to four weeks they're going to come to us, and they're going to say, 'We're going to get rid of all the tariffs.' We're going to win everything," Mr Trump stated.
Canada's Trade Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, hit back at the US measures, describing them as "imposing illegal and unjustified tariffs on sectors of their economy that were causing considerable hardship to businesses and workers across the country."
LeBlanc noted that talks between the two nations were continuing in search of alternatives to the current trade restrictions. He stressed that Ottawa's priority remained protecting Canadian workers and businesses from what he called "these unjustified actions".
"Our core focus is on what we can control: building strength at home, diversifying our partnerships abroad, and building Canada strong for all Canadians," he stated.
Tensions between the US and Canada have simmered since Mr Trump began a second term in early 2025. The relationship soured further in August when negotiations on a new trade agreement collapsed, prompting both sides to impose additional tariffs.
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