US Slaps Import Ban on Canadian Alcohol, Motorbikes, and More – BBC News
The US is banning a slew of Canadian products, including alcoholic spirits, dairy goods, and motorbikes, as its neighbour’s retaliatory tariffs on American goods come into force.
In a series of executive orders on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that Canada is "discriminating" against the US and outlined the import ban, which will begin 29 September.
Background
- Earlier on Tuesday, Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the economic impact of Canada’s shift away from the US as its primary trading partner.
- The trade war between the US and Canada, historically close allies, has been ongoing for months.
- Canada is generally more dependent on trade with the US, while the US’s trade with Canada is more diversified.
Recent Developments
- Last month, the White House imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion of Canadian goods.
- Canada responded with dollar-for-dollar tariffs on US goods, effective after midnight on Tuesday.
The White House accused Canada of discriminating against US businesses by restricting US goods while not applying the same restrictions to products from other countries.
Some affected products include:
- Whey and non-alcoholic beer (banned from import entirely)
- Cheeses and motorboats (increased import taxes)
Additional Measures
- On Monday, President Trump threatened further trade restrictions, targeting Bombardier, a Canadian aircraft company.
- Trade expert Deborah Elms predicts the import ban could significantly impact Canadian businesses with US buyers, though early estimates suggest a modest impact of around $1 billion in goods.
Elms suggests Canada will maintain its current course and adjust business support measures accordingly. The key question remains: what it will take for both sides to resume negotiations.
