United States President Donald Trump said the U.S. will raise tariffs on imports of cars, trucks and automotive parts from Canada to 50% from 1 January 2027, escalating trade tensions following the collapse of negotiations last week.
“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, accusing the longtime trading partner of harming U.S. farmers through its tariff policies.
“Not sustainable, and NOT ANYMORE!” he wrote. “On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50%.”
Trump later returned to Truth Social to criticise Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who threatened to intensify the U.S.-Canada trade dispute by restricting U.S. access to electricity and critical minerals.
“Someone should get these clowns to ‘fall in line’ or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE!” Trump wrote, referring to Ford as a “Flunky” of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Ford responded by calling Trump a “bully” and a “dictator”.
Trump's latest tariff threat would double the top-line U.S. duties on Canadian auto imports, which currently stand at 25%. Canada had sought to reduce those tariffs as part of a new trade agreement with the U.S., which appeared close to completion before negotiations broke down on Friday night.
On Saturday, the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods, including wine, cement and hockey sticks.
The measures were imposed in response to what Washington described as Canadian trade discrimination against U.S. cars, alcohol and dairy products.
The tariffs could have been avoided if the two countries had reached a trade agreement, but Canadian negotiators left Washington without a deal on Friday evening. Both sides have accused the other of seeking unreasonable last-minute changes to the proposed agreement.
Carney has vowed to retaliate “dollar for dollar” against the latest U.S. tariffs.
In his Truth Social post on Monday, Trump declared that Canada “will be treated like a State no longer!”
He also criticised Canada as being “among the worst Nations in the World to deal with” on trade and other issues.
“They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US! They do 95% of their business with the U.S., with us, the exact opposite!” Trump wrote.
