Canada accuses US of violating T-MEC with 50% tariffs, offers negotiations

Canada has formally accused the United States of violating the USMCA trade agreement after President Donald Trump announced new 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian products. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the measures represent a direct violation of the accord, but his government is prepared to intensify negotiations to resolve the dispute over the coming weeks. Source: excelsiormx, infobae

The tariffs

Announced on July 20, the new 50% duties will apply to goods including wine, hockey sticks, and cement, with a 30-day implementation window. Excluded are energy, potash, and certain sector-specific items. The White House justified the move by citing Canadian trade practices deemed "perjudiciales" (harmful) to US interests, such as restrictions on dairy imports and digital services taxes, as well as the impact of smoke from Canadian wildfires on US air quality. Source: excelsiormx, diariolibree, infobae

Canadian response

Carney called the tariffs "the latest in a series of unilateral US trade actions" that violate the USMCA, and noted that Canada has already matched some measures. He stressed that Canada has submitted detailed proposals to modernize the pact and is ready to ramp up talks. However, he also reiterated Canada's right to respond with "similar measures" if needed. Source: excelsiormx, infobae

The opposition Conservative party criticized Carney's approach, urging a harder line by leveraging Canada's natural resources in retaliation. Meanwhile, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that additional tariffs on about 60 countries are expected in the coming days. Source: diariolibree