President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products. Trump signed an order Saturday afternoon to put the tariff into effect Tuesday. Canadian energy will be subject to a 10 per cent tariff.
Trump also ordered a 25 per cent tariff on Mexican imports and 10 per cent on products from China.
“Access to the American market is a privilege,” the White House said in a statement Saturday.
Trump said the tariffs are in response to an inflow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants from Canada, as well as what he says is America’s substantial trade deficit with Canada.
Trump has indicated the tariffs on Canada will remain in place until Canada resolves its border security and problems with fentanyl trade.
“The extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, constitutes a national emergency,” the White House said, adding that the tariff will last “until the crisis is alleviated.”
The Canadian government has put $1.3 billion into border security measures since facing the threat of tariffs after Trump won the election in November.
Canadian officials have repeatedly stated that less than one per cent of illegal border crossings and fentanyl flowing into the United States come from Canada, but the message has fallen on deaf ears.
“There is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada,” the White House said. “A recent study recognized Canada’s heightened domestic production of fentanyl, and its growing footprint within international narcotics distribution.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc will hold a press conference at 6 p.m. Saturday to lay out Canada’s response to the tariffs. Trudeau also said he will meet with provincial premiers.
Trudeau has previously said he is prepared to respond with force, including retaliatory tariffs.