Overview

• In a letter posted on Truth Social, Trump warned that a 35% levy on Canadian imports will begin August 1 unless Canada agrees to new trade conditions.
• He justified the increase by citing Canada’s handling of fentanyl trafficking and pledged to add the same rate onto any Canadian counter-tariffs.
• A U.S. administration official said the hike will likely apply only to goods outside the USMCA framework, though final terms have yet to be settled.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney responded on X by promising to defend Canadian workers and businesses and to secure an agreement before the August 1 deadline.
• The threat is part of a wider campaign of tariff letters sent to more than 20 countries during Trump’s drive to extract concessions in trade negotiations.