By Sunday Ameh
Canada has imposed fresh retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of US goods, escalating the trade dispute between Ottawa and Washington.
The new measures, which took effect early Tuesday, include tariffs of up to 50% on American steel and aluminium, alongside duties on paper products, construction materials, appliances and agricultural goods.
The move came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to ban Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from selling jets in the United States unless the company builds them domestically.
Trump said Canadian companies seeking access to the US market must manufacture their products in America.
Bombardier, however, said it already has a significant manufacturing presence in the United States and contributes tens of thousands of jobs to the American aerospace industry.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended Ottawa’s retaliatory measures and indicated that Canada would respond to any further US trade actions.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries last month.
Analysts warned that although the US economy is much larger than Canada’s, both countries depend heavily on each other for goods and industrial components that cannot easily be replaced by alternative suppliers.
Economists said the new tariffs may not immediately affect consumers because businesses often negotiate prices in advance, but warned that higher costs could become more visible in the coming months.
The dispute has further strained relations between the two longtime trading partners and threatens to deepen the economic impact of their escalating trade war.
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