Trump brings back tariff on Canadian aluminum, one month after USMCA takes effect
Trump brings back tariff on Canadian aluminum, one month after USMCA takes effect
The trade deal between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, went into effect last month. But a trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada is flaring up once again nonetheless.
President Donald Trump says he wants to reimpose tariffs on some Canadian aluminum products. The president says Canada is flooding the U.S. with imported aluminum and undercutting American companies. Canada disputes that, and is promising to retaliate with tariffs of its own.
Trump made the announcement Thursday at a Whirlpool plant in the critical swing state of Ohio after touting previous tariffs aimed at boosting American manufacturing.
Among them were steel and Aluminum tariffs on Canada, imposed in 2018 and lifted last year, during trade negotiations over the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA.
But now the president is reimposing tariffs, in nine days, on some Canadian aluminum because he says the country is again flooding the American market with the raw material. A Canadian trade group said any recent increase was due to pandemic-related production issues.
Meanwhile, many American businesses oppose Trump’s move. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called it a step in the wrong direction. A U.S. aluminum industry trade group said the move undermined the USMCA.
But American producer Century Aluminum said the reimposition of Canadian tariffs levels the playing field for American workers.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
