Overview
- President Donald Trump signed three proclamations on Monday that impose 50 percent duties on a broad list of Canadian imports and set the tariffs to take effect in 30 days.
- The administration applied Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a legal tool never used this way, and trade lawyers say it is likely to face immediate court challenges.
- The White House said the duties cover nearly $20 billion of imports, about 5.2 percent of 2025 U.S. imports from Canada, and exclude energy, potash, fish and critical minerals.
- Ottawa condemned the action and said it is ready to intensify negotiations while Canadian officials and business groups warn of possible retaliatory tariffs, higher consumer prices and supply chain disruption.
- The step follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited the administration's prior emergency tariff authority and comes as officials also review separate options tied to Canadian wildfires, raising political and economic stakes ahead of U.S. elections.