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Canada PM Mark Carney warns of possible retaliation as US imposes 50% tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a set of 50 % tariffs on a range of Canadian goods – including honey, liquor, cement, dairy, some wood products and hockey sticks – to take effect on 19 August. The measures target roughly $20‑28 billion of Canadian exports and exclude energy, potash, fish and critical minerals.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the country’s premiers and territorial leaders in Charlottetown on 23 July. He said “everything’s on the table” if an agreement cannot be reached before the tariffs kick in and warned that Canada will consider “a full range of options” in response, but that acting early would be “counter‑productive.”
Provincial reactions vary. Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls for firm retaliation, while British Columbia Premier David Eby urges the federal government to use the province’s critical‑mineral and forestry assets as bargaining chips. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe favour a more cautious approach, opposing punitive measures that could hurt energy and potash exports. Analysts estimate the tariffs could shave about half a percentage point from Canada’s annual GDP.
The dispute has intensified negotiations for a new Canada‑U.S. trade pact, with both sides indicating a willingness to reach an agreement before the August deadline.