U.S. Escalates Trade Fight With New Restrictions on Canadian Goods

OTTAWA/WASHINGTON — The trade dispute between Canada and the United States has escalated again, with Washington moving to block several categories of Canadian products from the U.S. market.

The latest U.S. measures include planned bans on most Canadian alcoholic beverages, certain dairy products and motorcycles. The import bans are expected to take effect September 29. The move follows Canadian retaliatory tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of American imports.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also directed the General Services Administration to take steps toward removing Canadian-origin products from major U.S. government procurement schedules unless Canada provides what his administration calls “full and fair reciprocity” to American companies.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended Canada’s response and says the country needs to accelerate efforts to reduce its economic dependence on the United States and expand trade with other international partners.

For Nova Scotia, the dispute is particularly worth watching because of the province’s export economy and the potential for tariffs and counter-tariffs to affect businesses and consumer prices.

Source and photo reference: Associated Press