Trump is increasing the pressure on Canada with new tariffs.Image: keystone
US President Donald Trump is increasing the pressure in the trade dispute with Canada and announcing new additional tariffs of 50 percent.
July 21, 2026, 01:04July 21, 2026, 01:04
According to the White House, a wide range of goods imported into the USA are affected – hockey sticks, wine and cement were cited as examples.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the new tariffs will apply to about $20 billion worth of imports from Canada.
According to a statement from the White House, the US is responding “to Canada’s discriminatory treatment of American products.” The tariffs are scheduled to take effect 30 days after signing, on August 19, according to the proclamation. With the tariffs, Trump wants to improve the conditions for the export of US cars.
The USA and Canada have been arguing for a long time
The new tariffs are another twist in the trade dispute between the two neighboring countries. Trump has repeatedly accused Canada and other countries around the world of having a trade imbalance to the detriment of the USA. Tariffs are an important tool in his second term as US president.
However, Trump had to backtrack on his customs policy after a ruling by the Supreme Court in the USA prohibited him from imposing tariffs on the import of goods from many countries under an emergency law. Since then, the president has tried alternative ways to enforce tariffs. In the past it also happened that he threatened tariffs but then did not implement them.
Trump is angry with Canada – because of the forest fires
A few days ago, Trump threatened Canada with higher tariffs for a different reason. He wrote on his Truth Social platform that air pollution caused by wildfires would cost the United States high costs. Therefore, these costs would “necessarily” be added to the existing tariffs on Canadian imports.
There were clouds of smoke in large parts of the northeastern United States last week after dozens of forests burned in neighboring Canada. In the capital Washington, a warning was issued to residents about poor air quality on Friday. There was a burning smell in the air. (sda/dpa)