Trump Threatens Fresh Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum, Reigniting Trade Tensions

Trade relations between the United States and Canada are once again on shaky ground as U.S. President Donald Trump announced his administration’s plan to impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada and Mexico. The announcement made aboard Air Force One on Sunday, has sparked concerns among industry leaders and government officials alike.

Trump, speaking with reporters while en route to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, stated unequivocally, “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 per cent tariff.” When asked if aluminum imports would be included, he confirmed, “Aluminum, too.”

In addition to the steel and aluminum tariffs, Trump revealed plans to introduce “reciprocal tariffs” by midweek. This would mean that if another country imposes duties on U.S. goods, the United States will respond in kind.

“If they are charging us 130 per cent and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way,” Trump emphasized.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, currently in Paris for an artificial intelligence summit, declined to comment when questioned about Trump’s announcement. A senior Canadian government official later told CBC News that Ottawa is still awaiting official confirmation and has not received additional details.

Local steel industry representatives have expressed concern over the economic impact of renewed tariffs. The manager of Toronto-based Conquest Steel noted that Canadian manufacturers rely heavily on U.S. contracts and called for urgent government intervention to safeguard jobs.

This is not the first time Trump’s administration has imposed steep tariffs on Canadian metals. In March 2018, Trump introduced similar levies—25% on steel and 10% on aluminum—under the pretext of national security concerns. Canada initially secured an exemption, but by May 31, 2018, the tariffs were enforced, prompting retaliatory measures from Ottawa, including counter-tariffs on U.S. goods like Florida orange juice.

The dispute was temporarily resolved on May 17, 2019, when the White House struck a deal with Canada and Mexico to prevent sudden surges in metal exports. However, just weeks into his second term, Trump is once again using tariffs as a bargaining tool—this time, citing border security issues related to fentanyl and illegal immigration.

While the 25% tariffs were initially scheduled for February 1, Canada and Mexico were granted a 30-day reprieve after high-level discussions between Trudeau, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Trump. The delay comes after Canada committed to $1.3 billion in border security measures, including enhanced patrols and the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” to work with U.S. officials in tackling the opioid crisis.

Beyond trade, Trump once again took aim at Canada’s defense spending, arguing that the country does not contribute enough to North American security.

“They don’t pay very much for the military, and the reason they don’t pay much is they assume that we’re going to protect them,” Trump said. “That’s not an assumption they can make, because why are we protecting another country?”

His remarks escalated further when he questioned Canada’s viability as an independent nation and reiterated his past suggestion that the country should become the 51st U.S. state—comments that have previously been dismissed as jokes but are increasingly seen as politically inflammatory.