Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports into the United States increased to 50 per cent on Wednesday, after he signed an executive order on Tuesday to raise the levies from 25 per cent.
The tariff increase applies to foreign steel and aluminum imports, essentially all trading partners with the exception of the United Kingdom, according to CTV News. The tariff imposed on the English country will remain at 25 per cent, according to The Guardian, which also noted that the U.K. is not a top exporter of these metals to the U.S.
CTV News said Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney described the levy hike as unlawful and unjustified. It also shared a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, which said “Canada’s new government is engaged in intensive and live negotiations to have these and other tariffs removed as part of a new economic and security partnership with the United States.”
The impact of the tariffs is expected to be particularly significant for Canada and Mexico, and will be felt beyond the steel and aluminum sector — reaching into the automotive industry, among other areas.
