(VOVWORLD) - Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on US goods worth 20.6 billion USD, set to take effect on Thursday. The targeted goods include steel, aluminum, and other products, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.
 Steel coils at a plant in Ontario, Canada (Photo: Reuters/VNA) |
“I am announcing that the government of Canada, following a dollar-for-dollar approach, will be imposing, as of 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, March 13, 2025, 25% reciprocal tariffs on an additional 29.8 billion USD of imports from the United States," Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said. "This includes steel products worth 12.6 billion USD and aluminum products worth 3 billion USD as well as additional imported US goods worth 14.2 billion USD.”
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump directed the Treasury Secretary to double tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel to 50%, in response to Ontario's decision to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US starting March 10. However, just hours later, the White House reversed the decision after Ontario's Governor announced a temporary suspension of the electricity surcharge.
The same day, Trump threatened to "significantly increase" tariffs on US auto imports from Canada starting April 2 unless the country removes what he called excessive import duties. The escalating trade tensions come as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to hand over power to his successor, Mark Carney, who won the Liberal Party leadership race on Sunday, March 9.
On Monday, Carney said that he has not yet been able to communicate with Trump until his official swearing-in as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Trump wrote on social media that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States.