Canada announced it will impose dollar-for-dollar tariffs on American goods, a move set to take effect on September 8. The decision follows the collapse of recent trade negotiations between the two neighboring countries, which Canadian officials described as being derailed by last-minute changes and unaccepted demands from the U.S.
Speaking at a press conference, Canadian officials stated that the offered terms were unacceptable and that "new demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days." They characterized the situation as a "missed opportunity for Canada to partner with the United States."
The retaliatory tariffs will impact a range of U.S. sectors, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. The Canadian government vowed that the tariffs would not go unanswered, with the measures designed to match the value of proposed tariffs from the U.S.
Polling conducted prior to the breakdown of talks indicated that a majority of Canadians supported a firm stance in negotiations with the U.S. An Angus Reid Institute poll from July found that 65% of Canadians believed their government should approach the U.S. cautiously, viewing it as a potential threat or even an enemy.