The U.S. will levy a 35% tariff on imports from Canada, effective Aug. 1, according to a letter President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday evening.
The letter, addressed to Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, is the latest in a series of missives Trump has shared this week detailing the country-specific reciprocal tariffs his administration plans to impose on Aug. 1.
While most of the other letters have had identical language, Trump’s message to Canada drew attention to the country’s retaliatory tariffs to 25% levies the U.S. announced in February. The president also highlighted the importation of fentanyl and tariffs on U.S. dairy products as other challenges necessitating the tariffs.
Imports from Canada that do not adhere to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement have been subject to a 25% tariff upon entering the U.S. since early March. Thursday's tariff letter does not clarify whether the USMCA exemption will hold, nor whether the 35% duty will replace the original 25% levy.
“News of a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting August 1st, generates so many questions on administration and implementation,” said Pete Mento, director of customs and trade services at DSV, in a LinkedIn post Friday morning. “Will the same exemption for USMCA tariffs apply? Is this just more pressure to complete the deal this month?”
Canada has responded to several U.S. tariffs with its own levies over the last few months. In addition to placing a 25% duty on select goods from its southern neighbor, the country has matched U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as those on cars and auto parts.
Meanwhile, Canada has been one of several countries engaged in talks with the U.S. related to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs. Countries originally faced a July 9 deadline to reach a deal before country-specific duties announced in April kicked back in, but Trump on Monday signed an executive order extending a previous 90-day pause to Aug. 1.
“Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,” Carney said on X Thursday evening. “We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1.”
Trump’s letter to Canada continues a flurry of trade actions from the White House this week. In addition to previous letters outlining tariffs on countries such as Japan and South Korea, Trump has also said he plans to implement 50% tariffs on copper imports, starting Aug. 1. He is also initiating a Section 301 investigation into Brazil in addition to planned 50% tariffs on imports from the country.
