U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States will impose an additional 35% tariff on Canadian imports beginning August 1. The move, revealed in a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and shared via Trump’s Truth Social account, is part of a broader wave of trade measures targeting multiple U.S. trading partners.
Retaliation Sparks Tougher Trade Terms
In his message, Trump criticized Canada’s response to prior U.S. tariffs, claiming that instead of cooperating, Canada retaliated with its own import taxes. As a result, the U.S. will now charge Canadian exports a 35% customs duty, regardless of any existing sector-specific tariffs.
“These tariffs may be adjusted—up or down—depending on the state of our relationship with your country,” Trump noted in the letter. He also warned that if Canada responds with further tariffs, the rate could double to a total of 70%.
This is in addition to existing tariffs already placed on specific sectors (steel, aluminum, vehicles), which are among Canada’s leading export sectors to the U.S., its largest trade partner.
Wave of Global Tariff Notices
Canada is not the only country on the receiving end of Trump’s trade offensive. According to the U.S. president, around 20 nations—many in Asia—have received similar letters since the beginning of the week. These letters announce new tariffs ranging from 25% on goods from U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea, to as high as 40% on some Southeast Asian countries.
Brazil, which had previously faced a base tariff of 10%, has been notified of the steepest increase. Its exports to the U.S. will now face a 50% tariff. Trump explicitly linked this hike to political developments in Brazil, referencing legal action against former president Jair Bolsonaro over his alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 election result.
Letters to the EU Also Imminent
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump confirmed that similar correspondence would be sent to the European Union “today or tomorrow.” He stated, “We are talking with the EU, which includes many countries, and also with Canada. We’re going to send these letters within the next few hours.”
While the tariffs were originally set to take effect on July 9, President Trump signed an executive order earlier this week delaying implementation until August 1. This allows additional time for negotiations, though the administration has been clear: retaliatory actions from other countries will result in tariffs being doubled.
