President Donald Trump announced plans on October 25 to increase tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10%, but four weeks later, he still has not implemented the levy.
Trump announced on Truth Social on October 25 while traveling on Air Force One to Malaysia that Ontario’s provincial government had committed a “hostile act” by broadcasting an anti-tariff commercial during the World Series. The advertisement featured clips from former President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 remarks opposing tariffs.
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” Trump wrote.
However, reporters asked Trump two days later about implementation timing. He responded: “I don’t know when it’s going to kick in, and we’ll see, but I don’t really want to discuss it.”
A month in, Trump has yet to implement the threatened increase. Current US tariffs on Canadian goods vary by category: energy imports face a 10% rate, steel and aluminum products carry 50% duties, and items outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement framework face a 35% tariff.
Canada ranks among America’s top trading partners. Daily cross-border commerce totals approximately $2.7 billion in goods and services, with over 75% of Canadian exports heading to US markets.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government remains ready to resume trade discussions whenever the US administration chooses to engage. Trump suspended trade talks between the two nations following his reaction to the Ontario advertisement.
Related: US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra Says F-35 Jet Purchase Affects Canada’s Trade Talk Prospects
US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said last week that restarting the stalled trade negotiations “will not be easy,” and tied renewed talks partly to Canada’s decision on purchasing American F-35 fighter jets. The ambassador urged Canada to “harmonize” with the United States on economic and military cooperation.
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on November 5 regarding the constitutionality of Trump’s broader tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A federal appeals court previously ruled that Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on a wide range of goods exceeded his constitutional authority.
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