Trump hikes Canadian auto tariffs after talks fail
By: Joe Garison
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said he's doubling tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts from Canada to a rate of 50%, further escalating a trade war with the United States' northern neighbor that erupted over the weekend after negotiations between the two countries collapsed.
..... Trump announced the move in an august 24 [2026] post on Truth Social sang "Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years" and accusing the country of placing "ridiculously high" tariffs on U.S. farm exports to Canada. he said the new tariff rate will begin JAnaur 1, 2027.
..... "build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS. Canada will be treated like a State no longer! ON Trade, and in other ways, also, they are among the worst Nations in the World to deal with. They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON"T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!" Trump said.
..... Trump's latest thr4eat comes after 50% U.S. tariffs on many other Canadian goods went into effect just after midnight on August 22 [2026] after his administration was unable to strike a trade deal with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Democrats seized on the tariffs ahead of the November [2026] midterm elections, warning the taxes on imports will result in American consumers paying higher costs.
.... After ordering Canada's trade negotiators to return home, Careny said Canada would match Trump's tariffs "dollar for dollar"," with retaliatory tariffs to take effect on September 8. [2026]
..... Canada will impose tariffs on U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, along with some products the United States previously targeted in Canada, Carney said form Ottawa's Parliament building. The government will release details on its response in the coming days, he said.
..... "We cannot accept what they have offered, and we will not give what they have asked," Careny said.
..... Carney is one of the few global leased to retaliate against U.S. tariffs and has pledged to forge new trade and military alliances, despite Canada's dependence on the United States for nearly 70% of its exports.
..... Trump last year [2025] imposed a baseline 25% tariff on imported automobiles and auto parts, through the rate differ for some trading partners based on deals reached with his administration. Trump, in his social media post, also said he would hike Canada's steel tariff to 50%, but it is already set at 50%.
.....
The 50% tariffs that went into effect August 22 [2026] apply to just over 5% of Canadian exports to the United States, including on various goods such as wine, dairy, hockey sticks and cement.
..... Carney said about $28 billion worth of goods would be tariffed. They do not apply to exempted goods including energy, potash, fish and critical minerals. The tariffs do not qualify for preferential treatment under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement, which shielded many Canadian goods from earlier U.S tariffs.
.... U.S. Trade representative Jamieson Greer called the breakdown "a missed opportunity for Canada to partner with the United States," saying no new talks were planned with Canada.
..... Contributing: Reuters