Canada’s retaliation tariffs on US products worth US$13 billion came into effect

Beginning on July 1, 2018, Canada imposed tariffs worth C$16.6 billion (US$12.6 billion) on imports of aluminium, steel and other products from the USA.  The Government of Canada announced that the move was in response to the USA tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium.

 “Canada has always been a safe, secure and reliable source of steel and aluminium for the U.S. market. The tariffs introduced by the United States on Canadian steel and aluminium are protectionist and illegal under WTO and NAFTA rules – the very rules that the United States helped to write, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said.

“It is with regret that we take these countermeasures, but the U.S. tariffs leave Canada no choice but to defend our industries, our workers and our communities, and we will remain firm in doing so. The real solution to this unfortunate and unprecedented dispute is for the United States to rescind its tariffs on our steel and aluminium.”

On Friday, the Government of Canada also announced it will make C$2 billion available to defend and protect the aluminium, steel and manufacturing industries.

“The Government of Canada supports our country’s steel and aluminium workers and their families. We’re taking strong responsive measures to defend them. That includes new extended work-sharing, to help employers avoid layoffs, and increased capacity for job and skills training programs for any workers who need them,” Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.