The US-Canada trade war in 5 charts

The US-Canada Trade War in 5 Charts

The US and Canada appear no closer to resolving their ongoing trade dispute. Tensions have been simmering since President Donald Trump unleashed a global program of tariffs 18 months ago, with Canada among the first targets.

Tensions and Tariffs:

• The US has imposed tariffs on Canada's key sectors including steel, aluminium, lumber, and automobiles.
• Last week, the US added a 50% levy on approximately C$28 billion of Canadian goods.
• Canada retaliated with its own "dollar-for-dollar" and strategic counter-tariffs on American goods.

Impact on Provinces:

• Ontario has been hardest hit, experiencing significant job losses in manufacturing due to auto and steel tariffs.
• Quebec saw a 36% drop in metal exports and a 3.6% decrease in employment in the sector between February 2025 and 2026.
• Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island are least impacted.

States Affected by Canadian Counter-Tariffs:

• The US economy, being much larger, will absorb the impact of Canada's counter-tariffs more gradually.
• Swing states like British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario will feel the brunt of the additional C$28 billion in US goods targeted by Canadian tariffs.

Source: Statistics Canada, BBC Reporting