Canada will impose or raise tariffs of 15–50% on $27 billion of U.S. imports starting September 8, covering 700-plus products including steel, aluminum, appliances, farm equipment, paper, and electronics. The move follows the Trump administration's 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, imposed after trade talks collapsed on Friday.
President Trump on Truth Social floated renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," saying the U.S. "does not expect to do much business with Ontario any longer," and posted a doctored map. Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly replied, "We will always call it Lake Ontario, period." Trump separately threatened 50% duties on Canadian autos, auto parts, and steel.
Bilateral commerce totals about $800 billion, and the U.S. Trade Representative said the new duties affect 5% of imports from Canada and 0.06% of overall U.S. consumption. Trump conceded the U.S. needs Canadian aluminum. Roughly $2.5 billion in goods cross the border daily, and Michigan furniture maker Michael Howard said a 50% tariff has already cost his firm thousands in profit.
The two sides disagree on the dispute's cause: Trump dismissed French-language requirements as a factor in the breakdown, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Washington's demands aimed to "destroy" Canadian auto, steel, and aluminum industries.