(DPA)
The White House announced a new 50% tariff on a broad range of Canadian imports on Monday, stepping up a trade dispute with one of the United States' largest trading partners.
According to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the tariffs would apply to about $20 billion worth of imports from Canada, including products such as hockey sticks and cement.
They are due to take effect on August 19, 30 days after US President Donald Trump's signing of the proclamation.
The White House said the move was a response to what it called Canada's "discriminatory, unequal, and unreasonable tariff scheme" and was intended to improve conditions for exports of US-made automobiles.
The tariffs mark the latest escalation in a long-running trade dispute between the two neighbours.
Trump has repeatedly accused Canada, along with other trading partners, of maintaining unfair trade relationships with the United States and has made tariffs a central part of his second-term trade agenda. Canada, meanwhile, says the tariffs violate the countries' free trade agreement.
The announcement comes after the US Supreme Court barred Trump from using emergency powers to impose broad tariffs on imports from many countries, forcing his administration to pursue alternative legal avenues. Trump has also previously threatened tariffs that were ultimately not implemented.
Reacting to the announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on X that Canada "stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the US to the mutual benefit of our citizens." He added that Canada would take the necessary steps to build its strength at home.
Last week, Trump threatened Canada with higher tariffs over smoke from wildfires that drifted into the north-eastern United States, saying the air pollution had imposed costs on the country that should be added to existing tariffs on Canadian imports.