Trump imposes 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1; blames trade retaliation and Fentanyl crisis

Trump imposes 35% tariffs on Canada starting August 1

US President Donald Trump has announced a 35% tariff on Canadian imports which will come in effect from August 1 as part of what Trump called a response to "Canada's retaliation" and ongoing trade barriers.

“Instead of working with the United States, Canada retaliated with its own Tariffs. Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Canada a Tariff of 35% on Canadian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs,” Trump wrote in the letter, which was posted on his Truth Social platform.

In a direct warning to Ottawa, Trump said any Canadian response would be met with additional tariffs. "If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 35% that we charge," he wrote.

The president claimed that Canada's failure to stop fentanyl from entering the US contributed to the new tariff policy. "As you will recall, the United States imposed Tariffs on Canada to deal with our Nation's Fentanyl crisis, which is caused, in part, by Canada's failure to stop the drugs from pouring into our Country," the letter said.