Trump slaps 35% tariff on Canadian imports

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new 35 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada, reports Al Jazeera.

The tariff, set to take effect on August 1, marks a sharp turn in North American trade relations and has cast uncertainty over ongoing U.S.-Canada trade talks.

In a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and posted on his Truth Social platform Thursday, Trump warned that any retaliatory action from Canada would be met with further tariff hikes.

The announcement comes despite recent signs of improving relations between the two leaders, who met at the White House in May and again during the G7 summit in Canada last month.

Trump's decision is part of a broader protectionist push. In the same statement, he confirmed plans to impose additional tariffs of 15 to 20 percent on imports from several other U.S. trading partners. Over the past week, Trump has sent formal notices to leaders in more than 20 countries, warning of the impending tariff increases.

Speaking to NBC News on Wednesday, Trump stated, "We don’t need to send letters to every country. All of them will be facing 15 to 20 percent tariffs. That's our policy now."

The 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods comes at a critical juncture. U.S. and Canadian officials have been engaged in trade negotiations aimed at reaching a new bilateral agreement by July 21.