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U.S. Import Tariffs On Canada Paused For 30 Days

Following an agreement with the Mexican government, U.S. President Donald Trump and his team have agreed to pause the import tariffs on Canada for at least 30 days. In exchange, the Canadian government will implement its already announced CAD$1.3 billion border reinforcement plan and other measures to fight organized crime and drug smuggling.

This agreement arrives before the 25-percent tariffs were going into effect on February 4th, while the Canadian government was about to retaliate with its own package of tariffs aimed at American imports to the Great White North.

Described as “a comprehensive plan to fight back against the unjustified U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods while supporting Canada’s interests, industries, and workers,” the plan was to impose its first tariffs on February 4th, 2025, the same date Trump’s duties on Canada may go into effect.

Canada responds to tariffs from President Donald Trump.

The initial round of tariffs would have applied to $30 billion of U.S. trade goods moving north across the border each year. The list of items includes American orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliances, clothing, shoes, motorcycles, cosmetics, and pulp and paper. Meanwhile, the duties from the Trump administration are said to be capable of bringing the U.S. auto industry to a standstill for lack of parts.

Following up on this initial round of tariffs was a more expansive set of duties that would have affected an additional $125 billion worth of U.S. goods. These items would only be subject to tariffs following publication of a full list of affected goods and a 21-day period for public commentary.

Production of GM vehicles at Oshawa in Canada.

Prominent among the items on the second, larger list are passenger vehicles and trucks from U.S. automakers, including both ICE and EV models. Trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and recreational boats are also included on the list. An expanded list of foodstuffs and industrial goods will also be targeted, such as beef, pork, dairy, fruit, vegetables, aerospace products, steel and aluminum goods.

Before reaching an agreement with the Trump administration, the Canadian government said it will also consider “non-tariff options” for retaliation “should the U.S. continue to apply unjustified tariffs on Canada.” It urged Canadian citizens to buy goods made or produced in Canada wherever possible, using their money to support Canadian businesses.

A Chevy Silverado HD truck being built in Oshawa, Canada.

The Canadian government’s press release on the subject predicted “devastating consequences for the American economy and people” from Trump’s decision. It singled out the U.S. auto industry as particularly vulnerable, claiming that the trade war “will upend production at U.S. auto assembly plants” at the same time energy and food prices will spike.

Meanwhile, General Motors claims it has plans in place to mitigate the effects of the tariff battle and will increase U.S. pickup production to partially offset impacts on this part of its production chain.

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Comments

  1. So Canada just got the same 30 day exemption as Mexico did. The details:

    1. We implement the $1.3B border security package that was already proposed last month (this isn’t new, if you’re paying attention Americans).
    2. Justin Trudeau said that “10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border”. Note that he didn’t say 10,000 new people. He seems to be referring to existing border services employees. Nice.
    3. We’re throwing $200 million or so at a joint Canada/US fentanyl/organized crime/money laundering “Strike Force” (you Americans and your funny terms). And we’ll appoint a “Fentanyl Czar” (uhhh, ok?). This seems to be the only new concession. For a problem that is literally a drop in the bucket.

    No doubt your Great Orange Cheeto and his friends will spin this differently, but it sounds like he accepted Canada’s original border security plan that we presented to the US in January, along with the “Strike Force” addition.

    What a waste of time and effort. And I guess we get 30 days reprieve before he comes up with some other ridiculous requirement for us to satisfy. This is what tucking your tail beteeen your legs looks like after trying to find an easy out barely 24 hours later. Trump is a joke.

    Too bad he burned a lot of Canadian goodwill towards the US to achieve it.

    Reply
    1. It’s going to be a tiring 4 years. It was absolutely disgraceful and embarrassing how he behaves and treats close allies, neighbors, and critical partners at the direct expense of the American citizen. All so he can talk and beat his chest and convince is blind faithfuls that he won. He didn’t. He lost, and America lost. No matter the outcome, America lost on the world stage. It is shameful.

      Reply
      1. We’re so tired if this type of BS. If you aren’t awake to who is running America and the western world into the ground and what they want(ed) to do and did with the last meat puppet they put into office, you can keep losing elections the next 12 years.

        Reply
        1. John, enlighten us with one of your half baked conspiracy theories. Who is controlling the meat puppet. Tell us. Don’t use generalizations, use specifics. Who is controlling the Western world.

          Reply
      2. Grow some of those manly irons between your legs mikey boy. The election is over and you LOST and so did your DEI good buddies! YOU were shamed for the last 4 years. So go bend over in mexico next to that beautiful wall your going to see miles and miles of.

        Reply
        1. That’s what Trump promised in his first presidency he was going to build a wall and Mexico was going to pay for it. We all know how that worked out.

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        2. lol I love how DEI is now the new bugaboo of the MAGA world. A simple three letter acronym to toss out there to crap on, to cover your blatant hate, racism.

          Last year it was woke, this year it’s DEI, wonder what the MAGA phrase of the year will be for 2026.

          You guys are boring. Woke is still here. DEI will still be here. And you can be sure you’ll still be here, moaning about anyone not like you, but your constant griping isn’t going to make anyone disappear lol

          Reply
    2. I dot know why you’re getting so many thumbs down. You’ve clearly spelled out the facts. I guess it comes down this: Many Americans don’t like to be faced with facts. They want to believe all the BS and they love the hate. Pathetic state of affairs. What has Trump achieved with all the chaos, threats, and lies? Canadians no longer trust their closest friends and neighbours. And this won’t change anytime soon.

      Reply
      1. Keri,
        Don’t think for a minute that all Americans voted for Trump. He didn’t win new york, where I live. He also lost most of the northeast states.
        If you live in the GTA come over when the Leafs play the Sabres and I’ll buy you a beer.

        Reply
        1. Well the majority did so get over it!

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    3. My only guess is he thinks the presidency is like a reality show and the tariffs are more chest pounding for his audience. I doubt the actual conversations behind the curtains are so hostile towards each other.

      Regardless, I don’t understand how him pulling these trade war stunts are productive (unless you are dealing with an uncompromising self-interested hardliner like China). I think with respect to Canada a simple conversation on expressing concerns and willingness to try something different would have done the trick. Not rile the people of two allies against each other. There are too many family members and friends on each side of the border to have friction between these two countries.

      Reply
  2. The Orange Menace blinked !

    Reply
  3. kkkkkkkkkkkkkk this trump is not macho enough

    Reply
  4. Canada and Mexico called Trump’s bluff and he backed off. Foreign countries have learned from Trump’s first presidency that he’s nothing but a blowhard. You don’t back down from a bully you stand up to them.

    Reply
  5. I guess the US should halt the $200B US Tax payers gift we give to Canada every year.

    Reply
    1. Proove it!

      Reply
    2. You mean the $155B in heavy oil exported from Western Canada to the USA mid-west by pipeline every year. Refineries there can’t process anything else and it takes many months to build a new one. In the meantime, no gas, or gas at very high prices. Try telling that to voters in those primarily red states.

      Reply
    3. US tax payers don’t give any money to Canada.
      Trump talks about a trade deficit. Basically the US buys more goods from Canada than Canada buys from the US. And this deficit is all down to oil that the US buy’s from Canada.

      So if the US wants to fix this deficit than fix it. It’s a US problem not a Canada problem. And tariffs are only going to make it worse, not better for everyone. Canada can’t help it that it produces somethings the US needs or does it more efficiently.

      And the whole defense argument. In the last 75 years how many times has Canada requested the US military …. ZERO! And how many times has the US asked for Canadian military assistance …. Korea, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, ISIS, etc…. Many Canadian soldiers have died to assist with US interests. Yes Canada has seen some benefit from this as well. But this is how Canadians are now treated for it?

      Reply
      1. Erik, don’t take it personal.
        Trump is a narcissist. He cares about no one but himself. Now he’s screwing over his federal employees. His day will come. Oddly enough it might be at the hands of one of his disgruntled federal employees.
        Trump held his inauguration indoors, not because it was too cold outside, he was afraid “they” were going to get him.
        All bullies are cowards.

        Reply
  6. Trump acts like a spoiled kid (he is one, anyway) who won’t play with his neighbors if he doesn’t get his way of playing. That is a cheap form of bullying. Only the poor U.S. citizen will suffer.

    Reply
  7. Trump claims one of the reasons he’s threatening tariffs is because of the illegal drugs coming into the United States.
    Not counting marijuana, the most abused drug in the United States is methamphetamine. And it’s made right here in the USA. You don’t hear anything from Trump about that. What is he doing about it, nothing, because he can’t leverage it and blame other countries, or the boogeyman.

    Reply
    1. Myanmar is the largest producer followed by China.

      Reply
      1. Jthimas, there might be some truth to that. However it is not being smuggled into the US. You don’t smuggle something into a country that has an overabundance of it. If anything methamphetamine is being smuggled out of the US.
        I didn’t say the US is the biggest producer of methamphetamine. I said with the exception of marijuana it’s the number one most abused illegal drug in the US.

        Reply
  8. I expect an executive order from Donny regarding the demise of the 2.7L and AFM/DFM in 30 days.

    Reply
  9. I Guess Buicks WONT be Made in US ever again . General Motors..non American car company. Not enough Real Patriots on this forum…yep I am a hater.. @70

    Reply
  10. Actually, Trump is trying to help Canada by getting rid of Trudeau. He already has deals with Poilievre. If you want your shole country to get worse, keep importing the third world, keep Trudeau locking bank accounts, and the humongous housing inflation. You guys have lost some 12% of your countrymen emigrating to other countries because Canada has become a shole.

    Reply
    1. No independent, democratic country needs “help” from outside to elect its leaders.

      Reply
  11. He Liberals you lost get used to it!

    Reply
  12. Liberals? Get over it. Grow up. I am a patriot, veteran, us born citizen and a republican. I didn’t vote for Trump or Kamala. The republican party is a disgrace and so is its leader.

    Reply
    1. Let me guess. You also got blasted and chastised for “throwing away” your vote by voting third party? Join the club. I did the same because one is an unhinged unpredictable rabble rouser and the other said she would “change nothing” from a senile old man still living in the Cold War and leading us towards a nuclear exchange with Russia and North Korea and boy did I get nailed to the cross for it. The liberal tribalism is alive and vibrant in my own household even. We live in a democracy but how dare you not vote for the person your own family members demand you vote for. So what do we do? We were literally presented with two of the worse cards each party dealt us.

      Reply
  13. Based on the first few weeks of Trump part 2, it looks like the US voted to end 80 years of post WW2 American led peace and prosperity with a bang. If this initial tariff madness continues for even another 6 months the US will never regain the revered status it built up over the last 80 years as a benevolent and fair economic and military superpower. Our only hope is that Trump somehow comes to his senses or cannot continue as President within a few short months. These Tariffs on our best friends and allies are insane Lose-Lose policy decisions that would make everyone, including the US poorer.

    Reply
    1. Grand Prix GTP, It shouldn’t be long . Trump’s diminishing coherent speech, delusions, and paranoia, are all signs of dementia.
      His father Fred died from Alzheimer’s.
      You can plainly see it starting in Trump. Use of simple words, repeating himself, losing his train of thought, and talking in circles that make no point.
      Trump’s niece said Donald used to mock his father when he was sick with Alzheimer’s.
      Trump has no compassion, sympathy, or empathy, for anyone. That is how narcissists are.

      Reply
      1. Your hilarious because you just described Joe and kamala to a tee. Perhaps it’s you that better get checked for Dementia because you’re clearly babbling nonsense.

        Reply
    2. The other guy was ending years of peace after the end of the cold war with Russia, escalating the nuclear threat to the highest level since the Cuban Missile Crisis. I think I will take the loud brash orange guy over the guy that will land us glowing green if not vaporized with his cold war mentality.

      Reply

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