Trump's cold war with Canada continues. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has published in Truth Social sent the letter sent to the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, in which the 25% tariffs that Trump initially imposed in March increases.
Trump's tariffs to Canada allegedly sought that the neighboring country take more energetic measures against fentanyl smuggling, despite the relatively moderate drug trafficking from that country. Trump had also expressed his frustration for the commercial deficit with Canada, which is largely due to oil purchases by the US.
“I must mention that the Fentanyl flow is not the only challenge we have with Canada, which has numerous tariff policies and commercial barriers,” says Trump in the letter.
Thanks to the treaty between Mexico, the US and Canada (T-MEC, known as USMCA in English) Of 2020, the eligible products for Trump tariffs are limited. However, a review of the pact is expected by 2026.
The increase in rates would go into force on August 1, which threatens turbulence for the world economy, although many investors believe that Trump will finally reverse as has happened in the past.
Although several countries have received tariff letters this week, Canada – the second most important commercial partner in the United States after Mexico – has become a kind of Trump antagonist: has imposed retaliation tariffs on US products and has rejected the threats of the US president to convert Canada into the number 51.
Carney was chosen Prime Minister in April and responded by marking distances from the close relationship with the United States, seeking to strengthen his links with the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Hours before Trump's letter, Carney published in X a photo of his with the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and said: “Given the challenges of global trade, the world is resorting to reliable economic partners such as Canada.” That is, that US has become unreliable due to Trump's tariff political chaotic.
Trump is sending a series of tariff cards. At the moment, 23 countries have already received them since Monday.
They are identical letters in most cases, changing only the recipients and the rate figure. Except, for the moment, in the cases of Canada and Brazil, which was imposed by a 50% tariff for the trial against his former Jair Bolsonaro by coup. Trump was similarly accused of questioning the electoral result of 2020.
So far, Trump has announced trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, as well as an independent agreement with China to facilitate the continuation of commercial negotiations. Trump increased import taxes on Chinese products up to 145%, but, after conversations, Trump declared that China faces 55%tariffs.