Trump announces US will double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum
Trump’s decision marks a new escalation in the ongoing trade war with the country to the north of Washington.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to double the anticipated tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, citing Ontario's significant duties on electricity as the catalyst for this decision.
“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social. “This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th.”
This move marks the latest intensification of the trade conflict between the U.S. and its northern neighbor, following Trump's announcement last week of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. This development is likely to contribute to further market volatility as concerns about a recession loom. Furthermore, Trump is set to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries starting Wednesday.
The timing of the announcement aligns closely with Ontario's recent decision to raise prices on electricity exports to Minnesota, New York, and Michigan by 25 percent in response to Trump's tariffs from last week. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has indicated he may completely halt power exports if Trump does not retract his tariff threats.
In his extensive post, Trump also mentioned plans to declare a national emergency regarding electricity, which would enable the U.S. to “quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada.”
He reiterated his previously expressed desire for Canada to become the “51st state” of the U.S. "The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, ‘O Canada,’ will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!,” Trump wrote.
In contrast to Trump's aggressive stance, Ford made it clear that he would not be backing down. “Fighting like this does not make sense, but I will respond appropriately on the electricity. Stay tuned,” Ford commented during an MSNBC interview shortly after Trump’s announcement.
When asked about his potential response, Ford stated, “Well, we’ll see, talk to the team, and we’ll make an appropriate response to President Trump. Again, I stress this is not the American people. Canadians know it, and if we go into a recession, it’s self-made by one person. It’s called President Trump’s recession, which shouldn’t be this way.”
The exchange between the two nations appears set to escalate further. In his Tuesday post, Trump also insisted that Canada “drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous.”
While Canada does not maintain a flat tariff on U.S. dairy products, it employs a tariff rate quota system that imposes high tariffs—ranging from 200 to 300 percent—on imports that exceed a specific threshold. Trump has long criticized this quota policy, hinting last week that he might issue an executive order aimed at Canadian dairy imports.
Additionally, the president stated in his post that he intends to “substantially increase” tariffs on Canadian auto imports on April 2, unless “other egregious, long-time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada.”
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social. “This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th.”
This move marks the latest intensification of the trade conflict between the U.S. and its northern neighbor, following Trump's announcement last week of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. This development is likely to contribute to further market volatility as concerns about a recession loom. Furthermore, Trump is set to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries starting Wednesday.
The timing of the announcement aligns closely with Ontario's recent decision to raise prices on electricity exports to Minnesota, New York, and Michigan by 25 percent in response to Trump's tariffs from last week. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has indicated he may completely halt power exports if Trump does not retract his tariff threats.
In his extensive post, Trump also mentioned plans to declare a national emergency regarding electricity, which would enable the U.S. to “quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada.”
He reiterated his previously expressed desire for Canada to become the “51st state” of the U.S. "The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, ‘O Canada,’ will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!,” Trump wrote.
In contrast to Trump's aggressive stance, Ford made it clear that he would not be backing down. “Fighting like this does not make sense, but I will respond appropriately on the electricity. Stay tuned,” Ford commented during an MSNBC interview shortly after Trump’s announcement.
When asked about his potential response, Ford stated, “Well, we’ll see, talk to the team, and we’ll make an appropriate response to President Trump. Again, I stress this is not the American people. Canadians know it, and if we go into a recession, it’s self-made by one person. It’s called President Trump’s recession, which shouldn’t be this way.”
The exchange between the two nations appears set to escalate further. In his Tuesday post, Trump also insisted that Canada “drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous.”
While Canada does not maintain a flat tariff on U.S. dairy products, it employs a tariff rate quota system that imposes high tariffs—ranging from 200 to 300 percent—on imports that exceed a specific threshold. Trump has long criticized this quota policy, hinting last week that he might issue an executive order aimed at Canadian dairy imports.
Additionally, the president stated in his post that he intends to “substantially increase” tariffs on Canadian auto imports on April 2, unless “other egregious, long-time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada.”
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
