The about-face continues in the White House. After announcing Tuesday, March 11, on its Truth Social network, bringing taxes that will be applied to Canadian steel and aluminum, Donald Trump, was finally made from 25 % to 50 % on Wednesday. The adviser of the American president in charge of trade issues, Peter Navarro, said on Tuesday afternoon that the doubling of customs duties on Canadian metals would not come true.
Before this new decline, the future Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had promised that his government’s response to the measures announced by Mr. Trump would have “A maximum impact on the United States and a minimum impact on Canada”. “We will keep our prices until the Americans show us respect and take credible and reliable commitments in favor of a free and fair trade”wrote on the social network x M. Carney. In the process, Donald Trump had, like several times, said that he was going “No doubt” Return to these additional customs duties. This was therefore confirmed later by his advisor.
But the American president had also warned earlier than “Canada D(EUT) Immediately drop its American antifermers taxes from 250 % to 390 % on various American dairy products ”Adding that if Ottawa would not obtain, Washington would impose on April 2 of such customs taxes on cars that this “Will definitively stop the automotive industry in Canada”.
In another message posted the same day, on the same social network, Donald Trump also attacked additional taxes imposed, in retaliation, by the Canadian province of Ontario on electricity exported to the United States: “Can you imagine that Canada is low enough to use electricity, which affects the lives of innocent people, like a negotiation token and a threat?” “They will pay such a high price that it will be in history books for many years to come”had he added.
The Prime Minister of Ontario received in Washington Thursday
Tuesday evening, after a discussion “Productive” With the US Minister of Commerce, Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford announced the suspension of its surcharge of 25 % on electricity exported to three American states. US Minister Howard Lunick has accepted “To officially meet” Mr. Ford in Washington Thursday for “Discuss a renewal” of the CANADA-ETATS CANADA-ETATS (ACEUM) free trade agreement before the deadline of April 2, when customs duties “Converse” must come into force, according to a message from Mr. Ford posted on X.
In the same day, Donald Trump had again estimated that the “Only sensible thing” to do for the country was to become the “51e US State “Which would end the business war. Mr. Carney had already assured Sunday evening in an offensive speech that his country “Win” AND “Would never be part of the United States, in any way”. “Canadians are always ready when someone launches the glove. That the Americans are not mistaken. In trade as in hockey, Canada will win ”He had launched Sunday evening, in reference to the sports rivalry of the two countries, recently instrumentalized by Donald Trump.
Integration of Canada into the United States “Would completely disappear the taxes and everything else. Canadian customs tariffs would be reduced substantially, (Canadians) would be more security, militarily and otherwise, (…) And the largest and powerful nation in the world would be larger, better and stronger than ever – and Canada would be a significant part of that “wrote Mr. Trump again on his social social network, qualifying the border between the two countries of “Artificial separation line”.
Australia denounces “unjustified” customs duties
A month ago, Donald Trump had signed an imposing decree of customs duties of 25 % on steel and aluminum entering the United States, “Without exception”taking effect on March 12. “I determined that imports of steel articles (…) risked deteriorating national security “had written the president in his decree. These measures were already due to Canada, the main supplier of steel and aluminum from the United States. Brazil, Mexico and South Korea are also important suppliers of steel.
These customs duties are “Totally unjustified”, For his part, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacted. “It’s not a friendly gesture”told the Australian head of government to journalists, after failing to negotiate a last -minute exemption. Unlike the Canadian authorities, Mr. Albanese, however, rejected the possibility of economic retaliation measures. Australian exports represent 1 % of American steel imports and 2 % of its aluminum imports, according to Canberra.
