The Trump administration has slapped new tariffs on some popular Canadian goods, effective from Saturday, marking the latest salvo in his trade war with America’s northern neighbour as his feud with Prime Minister Mark Carney expands.
US President Donald Trump had announced the latest round of tariffs last month, saying they were intended to “offset Canadian discrimination” against American cars, dairy products and
US and Canadian officials had spent days negotiating an agreement aimed at preventing the tariffs from taking effect. Earlier in the week, Trump said in a Truth Social post that the two sides were close to reaching a deal.
The latest US tariffs came into force at 12:01 am on Saturday, covering a broad range of Canadian products. The affected goods include alcoholic drinks, dairy products and hockey equipment, among several other items, according to a Business Insider report.
Here are some of the well-known Canadian products that could become more expensive in the US.
Canadian whisky and other alcohol
are among the products covered by the tariffs, including Canadian whisky, one of the most popular alcoholic drinks imported by the US from Canada.
Popular Canadian whisky brands such as Crown Royal, Canadian Club and Black Velvet could be affected by the new duties.
Crystal Head Vodka, known for its distinctive skull-shaped bottle, is also produced in Canada and could face the tariffs.
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is an American product but uses Canadian whisky, meaning it could potentially be affected indirectly.
The dispute over alcohol between the two countries intensified last year after Trump introduced his first round of tariffs. In response, several Canadian provinces removed US-made alcoholic drinks from their shelves.
Hockey sticks and gloves
Hockey equipment, including sticks and gloves, is also included in the list of products covered by the tariffs.
Canadian-based brands such as Bauer Hockey, CCM Hockey and Sherwood are among the major names in the industry. However, products made by these companies will not necessarily be subject to the new duties.
Some Canadian hockey brands manufacture their equipment in countries such as China and Vietnam, meaning those products may not fall under the tariffs.
Sherwood, for instance, says some of its wooden hockey sticks are manufactured in Canada. Those products could therefore be affected.
Dairy products
The tariffs also cover several dairy items, including milk, cream and powdered dairy products.
Cheese, however, does not appear on the affected list. This is despite Trump citing Canada’s treatment of US-made cheese as one of the reasons for imposing the tariffs.
Motorcycles, honey and clothing
The tariffs extend well beyond food and sports equipment. The long list of affected Canadian goods also includes motorcycles, honey, clothing, plants, essential oils and dog leashes.
Construction materials, paper, smartphones and a range of other products are also included, meaning the impact could extend to several areas of everyday consumption.
‘Dollar for dollar’
Meanwhile, Carney said Canada will apply dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on US imports on September 8.
“We take this step reluctantly,” Carney said Saturday, “because we recognize that it will raise costs and reduce choice for Canadians,” that it will hit innocent US companies and states, and prevent the two countries from working together.
Carney, in a statement, said Canada would respond with tariffs on US goods “dollar for dollar” to protect Canadian workers and businesses.
He said the retaliatory import taxes will be concentrated on steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, with more details to be published in the coming days.
(With inputs from agencies)
