Carney: Canada will enact retaliatory US tariffs starting September 8

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to issue retaliatory, “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs after the United States enacted steep new duties on the country.

Carney addressed Canadians on Saturday, just hours after the US imposed 50 percent tariffs on nearly $20bn worth of the country’s goods.

The prime minister promised a “focused response”, beginning September 8, that would level tariffs on US imports like steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper and electronics.

“We pursued every opportunity to reach an agreement that protects Canadian workers and their families, that strengthens our economy and that respects Canadian sovereignty,” Carney said. “We take this step reluctantly.”

Carney’s remarks come after weeks of uncertainty over whether the tariffs would take effect. The newest import taxes were first announced in July, as part of an ongoing back-and-forth over trade between the two countries.

Since the start of his second term, Trump has sought to ratchet up pressure on Canada, as part of a push to increase US influence over the Western Hemisphere and advance US priorities.

In announcing the 50 percent tariffs on July 20, Trump accused Canada of “discriminatory treatment” in its trade policies. The two neighbours are longtime allies and have been among each other’s largest trading partners for decades.

Negotiators on both sides, however, have sought to stop Trump’s latest round of tariffs from taking effect, achieving a postponement from a previous deadline on Wednesday.