OTTAWA, Ontario—Canadian economist Mark Carney said that America's neighbor to the north "will not bow down" to Trump and his tariff plan in a statement on his website in February. Calling the tariffs "illegal" and hurtful to Canadian families, the front-runner to succeed Justin Trudeau said he supports reciprocal tariffs on the U.S.
That retaliation plan, beginning with a list of goods totaling $30 billion, came to pass March 4. And tires, footwear, floor coverings and other rubber products sit squarely in its crosshairs.
"Today, the United States has chosen to pursue a harmful course of action that threatens the prosperity of both our nations," Melanie Joly, Canadian minister of foreign affairs, said March 4. "Canada stands firm in defending our economy, workers and businesses against these unjustified tariffs."
This tariff plan is just the beginning, according to Department of Finance Canada, as the scope of the plan can be increased to $155 billion, should the Trump administration not back down on its plans.
"Canada is being needlessly and unfairly targeted by these tariffs—and the U.S.'s decision leaves us with no choice but to respond to protect Canadian interests, workers and businesses," Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs, said in a statement March 4. "Working with provincial, territorial and industry partners, our singular focus is to get these tariffs removed as quickly as possible."
The retaliation plan details over 70 different tariff measures on American-made rubber products, with a heavy focus on tires. The plan includes 21 measures on tires for cars, light trucks, bicycles, aircrafts, agricultural and mining vehicles, and other vehicles.
The Department of Finance Canada also warned that the U.S. tariffs, and Canada's retaliatory tariffs, will have "devastating consequences" on consumers throughout North America, including those from the U.S.
"As a result of the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Americans will pay more at grocery stores and gas pumps, and potentially lose thousands of jobs," the agency said. "U.S. tariffs will also disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship and violate the Canada-U.S.- Mexico trade agreement that was renegotiated by President Trump in his last term."
