Aug. 7, 2020
Some key events in Canada-U.S. trade relations since 2018:
May 31, 2018
The U.S announces tariffs of 25 per cent on imports of Canadian steel and 10 per cent on aluminum to take effect the next day. Lack of progress in NAFTA renegotiations was cited by Washington as the reason for the tariffs.
In retaliation, Canada later the same day announces plans to impose taxes of up to $16.6 billion on steel, aluminum and hundreds of other products from the United States.
May 17, 2019
Canada and the U.S. reach an agreement that ends the 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent levy on aluminum that had been in place for most of the previous year. Canada had said the measures stood in the way of ratifying the new NAFTA agreement.
Oct. 30, 2019
A U.S. watchdog criticizes the way the Trump administration handles taxes on imported steel and aluminum, saying a lack of transparency on the tariffs imposed in March 2018 creates the appearance of “improper influence.”
July 1, 2020
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement in place since 1994, takes effect.
Aug. 6, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump announces plans to reimpose a 10-per-cent tariff on Canadian aluminum, saying “Canada was taking advantage of us, as usual.” The tariff had previously been imposed in 2018 and suspended in 2019.
Deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who played a pivotal role in negotiating with the United States as foreign minister, issues official statement saying Canada would swiftly impose countermeasures on a “dollar-for-dollar basis.”
Aug. 7, 2020
Freeland says Canada will hit back with $3.6 billion in tariffs of its own. She says the government will consult with the domestic industry to determine which items to target. She says the goal is to inflict the least damage on Canada and the “strongest possible impact” on the United States.
— With files from The Associated Press
