U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly escalated his trade measures against Canada, announcing bans on several Canadian products and expanding 50 per cent tariffs to additional goods following Ottawa’s latest retaliatory duties.
The new restrictions will prohibit certain Canadian alcohol, dairy products, motorcycles and mopeds from entering the United States beginning Sept. 29 at 12:01 a.m. ET.
A senior White House official said the measures are intended to discourage Canadian retaliation, protect U.S. production and create what the administration considers a more level playing field for American businesses.
Alcohol, dairy and motorcycles targeted
The import ban covers several categories of packaged alcoholic beverages, including sparkling grape wine, malt beer, rice wine or sake, Irish and Scotch whiskies, pisco and singani. Tequila and mezcal in containers smaller than four litres are also included.
Certain dairy-related products, including several varieties of whey protein, will also be prohibited, along with cane molasses and non-alcoholic beer.
The administration is separately expanding its 50 per cent tariff to additional Canadian goods, including golf carts and similar vehicles, cotton mattresses, bamboo and rattan furniture, and more aluminum and cheese products.
Some Canadian products removed from tariff list
At the same time, Trump is removing several Canadian goods from the 50 per cent tariff regime.
Those exemptions include non-white cement, toilet and facial tissue, bed sheets, certain household and hospital paper products, fishing rods and accessories, chemically pure sugars and road salt.
A senior administration official said the White House had taken a more targeted approach toward natural resources and other products that cannot easily be sourced domestically.
Road salt was cited as one example, with some parts of the United States heavily dependent on Canadian supplies that would be difficult to replace.
Changes to the list of products subject to the 50 per cent tariff are expected to take effect within a week.
Canadian products targeted in U.S. government procurement
Trump is also moving to restrict Canadian goods from U.S. government purchasing programs.
The president directed the U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Trade Representative to take steps to remove Canadian-origin products from the GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules unless Canada restores what Trump described as full and fair reciprocity for American farmers and businesses.
Trump said those government purchasing schedules account for more than US$50 billion annually.
It remains unclear how quickly Canadian products could be removed from existing U.S. government procurement arrangements.
50% auto tariffs still planned for January
The White House also indicated that Trump’s plan to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian automobiles beginning Jan. 1 remains in place.
However, a senior administration official suggested negotiations could still produce an alternative outcome, saying Washington remains open to reaching an agreement with Canada.
Despite the latest escalation, the official said there appears to be interest on the Canadian side in finding another path forward.
Canada assessing latest U.S. measures
Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Ottawa is reviewing the latest actions announced by Washington.
LeBlanc said the federal government’s priority remains protecting Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses from what Canada considers unjustified U.S. trade measures.
He added that Canada remains prepared to engage constructively with Washington when the United States is ready to return to negotiations, but said any future agreement must respect Canadian sovereignty.
The latest actions deepen an already escalating Canada-U.S. trade confrontation, with both countries imposing new restrictions while leaving open the possibility of returning to the negotiating table.
