US President Donald Trump has said he will impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting on 1 August, even as the two countries were days away from a self-imposed deadline to reach a new trade deal.The announcement came in the form of a letter published on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, along with additional threats of blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government would continue to protect his country’s workers and businesses as they head towards the new deadline.Trump has sent more than 20 such letters to other US partners this week. He also says he will soon announce new tariffs on the European Union.Like Canada’s letter, Trump has vowed to implement those tariffs by 1 August. A blanket 25% tariff has already been imposed on some Canadian goods, with the nation also hit hard by Trump’s global steel, aluminium and auto tariffs – though there is a current exemption in place for goods that comply with a North American free trade agreement.It is unclear if the latest tariffs threat would also apply to goods covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Trump has also imposed a global 50% tariff on aluminium and steel imports, and a 25% tariff on all cars and trucks not built in the US. He also recently announced a 50% tariff on copper imports, scheduled to take effect next month.Canada sells about three-quarters of its goods to the US, and is an auto manufacturing hub and a major supplier of metals, making the US tariffs especially damaging to those sectors. Trump’s letter said the 35% tariffs were separate to those sector-specific levies.”As you are aware, there will be no tariff if Canada, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States,” Trump stated.He also tied the tariffs to what he called “C …
