Trump Says He May Hit Canada With Dairy, Lumber Tariffs Soon
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President Donald Trump said he may implement reciprocal tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products as soon as March 7, threatening again to disrupt cross-border trade.
“Canada has been ripping us off for years on tariffs for lumber and for dairy products. 250% — nobody ever talks about that — 250% tariff — which is taking advantage of our farmers. So that’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump said March 7 in the Oval Office.
“They’ll be met with the exact same tariff unless they drop it, and that’s what reciprocal means. And we may do it as early as today, or we’ll wait till Monday or Tuesday, but that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to charge the same thing. It’s not fair,” he added.
Trump’s comments cap a tumultuous week that saw him impose 25% tariffs on the largest U.S. trading partners, Mexico and Canada, and double levies against the world’s second largest economy, China, to 20%. Those moves sparked worries that Trump’s sweeping trade agenda would further strain a U.S. economy facing headwinds, including stagnating factory activity, still simmering inflation and ebbing consumer confidence.
Trump on March 6 delayed those tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods covered under a free trade agreement until April 2, offering a brief reprieve, but spurring uncertainty over a trade strategy that has gripped markets and businesses.
Trump on March 7 described his proposed tariffs as reciprocal, which is the same phrasing he has used to describe the broader duties he plans to implement on April 2.
The U.S. is preparing a set percentage for each country that the administration says would match both tariff and other barriers to American imports. But his comments March