WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The United States will ban imports of a range of Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products beginning Sept. 29, escalating an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries.
President Donald Trump announced the restrictions Tuesday through a series of presidential proclamations. The administration said the measures respond to what it considers discriminatory Canadian trade policies affecting U.S. alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle exports.
The alcohol restrictions cover most categories of Canadian alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, whisky, vodka, rum and brandy. The dairy restrictions include products such as whey protein and certain molasses products, while additional Canadian cheeses will face a 50% tariff rather than an outright ban.
The restrictions follow Canada’s imposition Tuesday of retaliatory tariffs on C$27.6 billion, or about US$20 billion, of U.S. goods. Canadian duties range from 15% to 50% and cover products including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper and electronics.
Canada introduced the countermeasures after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly US$20 billion of Canadian goods in August following unsuccessful trade negotiations.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Canada would continue efforts to diversify trade away from its heavy dependence on the U.S. market.
“We have everything we need to pivot and prosper,” Carney said, while acknowledging that the shift would carry economic costs.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for U.S. trade, called the latest U.S. measures unjustified and said he remained in contact with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer about a possible path forward.
The two officials are expected to continue discussions, though formal negotiations have not resumed since broader trade talks broke down in August.
Canada remains highly dependent on the U.S. market, sending nearly 68% of its exports to the United States this year. About 80% of those shipments have entered duty-free under exemptions in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The Sept. 29 import bans replace existing 50% duties on the affected products. Other Canadian goods will remain subject to tariffs rather than outright import restrictions.
