Trump raises tariff on Canadian steel, aluminum to 50%, announces 25% levy on electricity

In a dramatic escalation of the trade war between the US and Canada, President Donald Trump announced that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada.

This is in addition to tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports from around the world, including exporters in Brazil, Mexico and United Arab Emirates.

“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on ‘Electricity’ coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to ad [sic] 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 wrote on Truth Social.

The country facing the most aggressive action is Canada, historically one of the United States’ closest allies and top trading partners, but now locked in an extraordinarily bitter war of words with the Republican, as well as constant threats over its sovereignty.

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Canada’s incoming prime minister Mark Carney struck a defiant note Sunday, vowing to stand up for “the Canadian way of life” and saying Canadians are “always ready” for a fight if needed.

Canada supplies half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of US steel imports, noted industry consultant EY-Parthenon.

Trump said his new supercharged tariffs were in response to Canadian province Ontario’s imposition of a 25-percent tax on electricity exports to the United States.

Trump said he would also be announcing an electricity national emergency in the area hit by the price increases.

But he also ramped up his threats, warning that if what he called “egregious” Canadian tariffs are not dropped he will also impose car import tariffs starting April 2 “which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”

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In the same lengthy social media post, Trump said the “only thing which makes sense” is for Canada to join the United States as a 51st state.

“This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem,” Trump said.

with inputs from agencies