Canada announces retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. as the countries' trade fight deepens

Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Canada hits back at U.S. with tariffs as trade war escalates The measures come after President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods and threatened more after trade talks broke down on Friday. Business Canada hits back at the U.S. with tariffs as the countries' trade fight escalates August 25, 202611:20 AM ET Alex Leff Tractor trailers cross the Peace Bridge at the Canada-United States border in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, on Aug. 20. Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on hundreds of U.S. goods on Tuesday as the two countries fell deeper into a trade fight. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the countermeasures will match U.S. tariffs "dollar for dollar, rate for rate," with tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% on a range of exports from the U.S., effective Sept. 8. He said the countertariffs will focus on steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, totaling nearly $20 billion worth of annual imports from the United States. (The Finance Ministry published the list of products here.) Middle East conflict Can Trump's economic war against Iran do what airstrikes and negotiations couldn't? "Canada's countertariffs are designed primarily to provide protection for Canadian industry impacted by U.S. tariffs and allow them to compete against U.S. products in the Canadian market," Champagne said. "It's all about fairness. It's all about level playing field. It's all about supporting Canadian workers and Canadian businesses." The move comes after President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods and threatened more after trade talks broke down on Friday. Experts estimate the duties will affect 5% of Canada's exports to the United States. "When the United States asked too much and offered too little, we chose to stand up for Canadians," Champagne said, referring to the failed talks. World, reordering As Canada readies retaliatory tariffs, Mark Carney says his nation is 'at war' with U.S. Leading up to Canada's announcement, Trump took to social media to vent frustration with the country. He accused Canada of "Ripping Off" the U.S. for decades. He insulted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney by calling him "Governor Carney." And he said the U.S. is considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Trump has also repeatedly said Canada should become a U.S. state. Carney suspended trade talks with the U.S. on Friday, saying in a statement that last-minute changes to the U.S. proposal were "unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal." The U.S. trade representative countered that the U.S. had offered Canada a better deal. But Carney said it was a bad deal and accused the U.S. of trying to "destroy our major industries." At a news conference on Saturday, Carney likened the U.S. actions to a conflict. "You're at war when you get attacked. We got attacked," he said. NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor