President Donald Trump ramps up trade war with Canada with brutal new import ban
The US has slapped a new ban on imports of alcohol, dairy goods and motorbikes from Canada as the trade war between the two countries escalates.
White House officials have said the ban will kick in on 29 September, after retaliatory tariffs promised by Canada were introduced on Tuesday (8 September).
Canada had responded to tariff moves by US President Donald Trump after trade talks between the countries broke down last month.
But just hours after they were introduced, President Trump signed off on a sweeping executive order which will stop the import of a range of alcoholic drinks, including beer sold in cans and bottles, rye whisky and some kinds of wine.
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The order will stop the import of whey protein, some mopeds and motorbikes, and molasses.
Trump also moved to shut Canadian products out of large, long-term US government contracts as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect.
He directed the US General Services Administration to declare Canadian products ineligible for those contracts until Canada allows ‘full and fair reciprocity’ for American products.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to speed up efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on the United States and said his strategy was about becoming more independent.
“It’s about ensuring that no country can hold us hostage,” he said.
“And that we can live how we want to live.”
The two countries have historically been close allies, but under Trump’s presidency, US-Canada relations have deteriorated rapidly.
In addition to imposing tariffs on Canadian products, the president has repeatedly made inflammatory comments about making Canada the 51st US state.
Last month, after trade negotiations collapsed, Trump moved to rename Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ sparking a backlash in Canada.
In response to Trump rebranding the lake, which has already been updated for Google Maps users in the US, Premier of Ontario Doug Ford unveiled a huge new sign on the banks of lake, proudly displaying the words: “Lake Ontario Now and Always” in both English and French.
The 24 by 12ft sign stands on six-foot legs, putting its top about 18 feet above the ground, around two stories high.
Explaining the move, Ford said: “You may have heard that President Trump is trying to rename this lake, all because he doesn’t like Ontario and Canada standing up for ourselves.
“But let’s be serious. Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario and long after President Trump is gone, it’ll still be called Lake Ontario but just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets, we’ve set up the sign to remind them: it’s Lake Ontario now and forever.
In a follow up post on X, he wrote: “Make no mistake: Lake Ontario is and always will be Lake Ontario.”
Trump denied that the renaming was about sending a message to Canada.
No message,” he insisted.
"As you know, Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly. Even the military, you know, we defend Canada for nothing, we don’t get anything."
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, World News
Claire Reid