Turkey Targets Canada Again, Announces Additional 35% Tariffs

US President Donald Trump once again turned his attention to Canada on Thursday, imposing an additional 35% tariff on Canada, one of the highest rates announced this week, accusing Ottawa of retaliating against his tariffs.

In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, the US President wrote, "Canada has not cooperated with the United States but instead retaliated with its own tariffs. Starting August 1, 2025, we will impose a 35% tariff on products exported from Canada to the United States."

President Trump shared this letter on his "Truth Social" platform. He warned, "Depending on our relationship with your country, these tariffs may be increased or decreased."

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said late on Thursday on X social media, "In the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government is steadfastly defending our workers and businesses." He added, "We will continue to work to complete this by the revised deadline of August 1."

Like the letters he sent to more than 20 countries since Monday, Trump clearly stated that these tariffs would be added to the tariffs on specific industries such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles. (These specific industries are Canada's main export products to the United States.)

However, a source confirmed to AFP that, under the current situation, the additional tax will not apply to products entering the United States under the Canada-US-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA), although a final decision has not yet been made.

Like Mexico, Canada is also a primary target of Trump's tariffs: Mr. Trump accused the two neighboring countries of not doing enough to combat illegal immigration or the trafficking of the powerful opioid fentanyl, which has caused a serious health crisis in the United States. Canadian authorities stated that less than 1% of fentanyl entering the United States comes from Canada.

The US President first imposed a 25% tariff on imports from the two countries, and then suspended most of them.

Since then, Ottawa and Washington have been trying to negotiate a trade agreement, but discussions between the two partners have remained tense, as they do not want to appear to be making concessions in negotiations viewed as sovereignty issues.

The latest development is that Canada announced in mid-June that it would abandon the digital services tax, which had been agreed upon in 2024 and was scheduled to take effect on July 1, but Mr. Trump interrupted the negotiations, calling it a "direct and obvious attack" on the United States.

These trade tensions are affecting trade between the two countries. According to Canadian authorities, the share of the US in Canada's exports fell to 68.3% in May, one of the lowest proportions in history.

Additionally, the US President also announced raising tariffs on Brazilian products by 50% in response to the Lula administration's prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was charged with attempting a coup.

Following steel, aluminum, and automobiles, additional tariffs on wood, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals are expected to be announced. On Tuesday, the US President also announced a 50% additional tariff on imported copper starting August 1.

Sources: rfi

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837397822577664/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.