What specific tariff actions did Trump take against Canada in his second term, and how did Canada respond?

Trump imposed a series of escalating tariffs on Canadian goods, beginning with a threatened 25% tariff on his first day back in office, followed by an executive order invoking national emergency powers to enact it starting February 4, 2025; after delays and exemptions, he later imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports in June 2025, and a 35% rate on a range of Canadian goods starting August 1, 2025. Canada responded with retaliatory measures including $29.8 billion CAD ($20.7 billion USD) in tariffs on U.S. imports, matching the 25% auto tariff on non-USMCA-compliant vehicles, threatening new steel and aluminum tariffs, and later dropping many retaliatory tariffs to align with U.S. exemptions.

What legal challenge arose from Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on Canada, and what was the judicial outcome?

Trump faced legal challenges over his use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs, including the 25% levy on Canadian goods; the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in late May 2025 that he had overstepped his authority, but a federal appeals court quickly halted that ruling temporarily.

Trump's Trade War with Canada: A Timeline of How We Got Here

Aug 23, 2026

President Trump imposed steep tariffs on Canadian imports, including 50% levies on steel, aluminum, and copper, triggering retaliatory measures from Canada and straining USMCA trade relations amid ongoing legal challenges.

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