On the eve of the entry into force of American customs duties on steel and aluminum, Donald Trump announced, Tuesday, March 11, on its Truth Social network, carry the taxes that will be applied to Canadian materials from 25 % to 50 %. Moreover, “Canada must immediately drop its American anti-Fermier taxes from 250 % to 390 % on various American dairy products”has again demanded the American president, adding that if Ottawa would not obtain, Washington would impose on April 2 – when the delay granted will end – such customs taxes on cars that this “Will definitively stop the automotive industry in Canada”.
Bringing off again against the Canadian neighbor, Mr. Trump also considered that the “Only sensible thing” to do for the country was to become the “51e US State “which would end de facto in the trade war. The new Canadian head of government, Mark Carney, assured on Sunday evening in an offensive speech that his country “Win” And “Would never be part of the United States, in any way”. “Canadians are always ready when someone launches the glove. That the Americans are not mistaken. In trade as in hockey, Canada will win ”he launched Sunday evening, in reference to the sporting rivalry of the two countries, recently instrumentalized by Donald Trump.
Integration of Canada into the United States “Would completely disappear the taxes and everything else. Canadian customs tariffs would be reduced substantially, [les Canadiens] would be more security, militarily and otherwise, (…) And the largest and powerful nation in the world would be larger, better and stronger than ever – and Canada would be a significant part of that “however, wrote Mr. Trump on Truth Social, qualifying the border between the two countries of “Artificial separation line”.
Canada and Mexico, neighbors and privileged targets
A month ago, Donald Trump had signed an imposing decree of customs duties of 25 % of steel and aluminum, “without exception”, taking effect on March 12. “I determined that imports of steel articles (…) risked deteriorating national security “had written the president in his decree. These measures were already due to Canada, the main supplier of steel and aluminum from the United States. These customs duties “Would be completely unjustified”had reacted François-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Canadian Industry, promising an answer “Clear and measured”. Brazil, Mexico and South Korea are also important suppliers of steel.
Since his return to the White House, Trump has agitated the threat of a trade war, especially with his American neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Thursday, he had also suspended most of the customs duties he had announced on the goods covered by the ACEUM, the free trade treaty which regulates trade between the two countries, granting them until April 2, and qualifying his relationship with the Mexican president of “Very good”. The American president had announced 25 % customs duties on 1er February, on Canadian and Mexican products, which were to be effective the next day, before suspending them thirty days following negotiations with the two neighbors of the United States. He had justified these protectionist measures by the lack of involvement of Canada and Mexico in the fight against fentanyl traffic, a powerful opioid which causes a major health crisis in the United States.