US slaps import ban on Canadian alcohol and other goods
In a sunset of escalating trade friction, President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Tuesday that name Canadian alcohol, dairy products and motor vehicles among those banned from U.S. imports. The ban, effective 29 September, follows a string of retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada on American goods, including steel, clothing and furniture.
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a video address that day, warning that Canada’s move to limit trade with its largest partner would carry economic consequences. Both sides have publicly expressed a desire to negotiate a settlement, yet no new talks have materialised since talks collapsed in late August.
The U.S. had previously levied 50% tariffs on an estimated £14.8 bn ($20 bn) worth of Canadian goods after negotiations broke down. Canada’s counter‑duties activated after midnight on Tuesday, and the new U.S. embargo specifically targets products that were among the highest‑priced Canadian exports.
Trade tensions have also taken on symbolic intensity. In August, Trump renamed Lake Ontario as Lake America, a decision that sparked backlash in Canada and among segments of the American public.
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