China and Canada responded on Tuesday to new U.S. tariffs, announcing their own countermeasures just hours after the duties took effect. A 25% tariff on nearly all goods imported from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, was implemented at midnight. In retaliation, China is set to impose additional tariffs of up to 15% on certain U.S. products, while Canada vowed tariffs as high as 25% on American imports.
China’s new tariffs, which take effect on March 10, include a 15% levy on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, along with a 10% tariff on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and fish products. In addition, Beijing added 10 U.S. companies to its “unreliable entity” list and 15 to its export control list, primarily targeting defense and intelligence firms. China also announced it would file a complaint with the World Trade Organization, mirroring its previous legal challenge against a similar 10% tariff imposed by President Trump on February 4.
The latest round of tariffs comes on top of the duties Trump levied during his first term, many of which were maintained and even expanded by Biden. Canada, for its part, reaffirmed its plan to impose 25% tariffs on CA$155 billion ($107 billion) worth of American goods. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tariffs on $20.7 billion in goods will take effect immediately, with the remaining $86.3 billion in products subject to duties in 21 days. Trudeau stated that the tariffs would remain in place until the U.S. trade action is rescinded.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested that retaliation could extend beyond tariffs, warning that Canada might cut off electricity transmission to the U.S. or halt nickel shipments, which he said would have dire consequences for American manufacturing. “Fifty percent of the nickel you use is coming out of Ontario,” Ford said, emphasizing that the U.S. would “see a response like they’ve never seen before.”
Mexico has yet to announce their countermeasures, but President Sheinbaum stated that her country would soon announce tariff and non-tariff measures.
