China and Canada are hitting back against US tariffs on their imports that came into force today (4 March).
In a statement yesterday (3 March), China’s Ministry of Finance said it would bring in “additional tariffs” on a selection of US imports, with tariffs of both 15% and 10% being applied.
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Canada also yesterday announced its intentions to return fire on the 25% tariff on its exports to the US, alongside a 10% tariff on Canadian energy, effective from today.
US goods subject to Beijing’s 15% tariffs include fresh, chilled and preserved chicken products, wheat and corn.
The 10% tariffs will be applied to soybeans, beef and pork goods and a long list of fish and seafood.
Dairy items such as sweetened and unsweetened milk and cream, butter, yogurt, ice cream and a range of fresh and preserved fruit, vegetables and nuts are also subject to the 10% charge.
China’s tariffs on the US goods are set to come into effect from 10 March, the country’s finance ministry said but noted that products leaving the US prior to this date and imported between 10 March and 12 April will not be subject to the levy.
Beijing’s move follows US President Donald Trump slapping an additional 10% tariff on China last week, effective from today.
China was already facing a 10% levy from the US, which it also retaliated against by bringing in tariffs of 10% or 15% on US agricultural machinery, coal and gas imports in February.
“The US’s unilateral tariff increase damages the multilateral trading system, increases the burden on US companies and consumers, and undermines the foundation of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US”, China’s finance ministry said in its most recent statement.
Canada tariffs hit range of US food and drinks
In a statement yesterday, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country was introducing an equal 25% tariff against $155bn of US goods from 12:01 EST this morning.
Trudeau said Canada was “starting with tariffs on $30bn worth of goods immediately and tariffs on the remaining $125bn on American products in 21 days’ time”.
He added the tariffs would “remain in place until the US trade action is withdrawn”. If the US decides to maintain those tariffs, Trudeau said his government was “in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures”.
At the start of last month, when the US had initially planned to implement the tariffs before announcing a one-month pause, Canada issued a list of the $30bn goods which would see a 25% levy.
The list includes food products like meat and edible offal, sausages, dairy products, eggs, chocolate and citrus fruits. It also featured drinks such as coffee, tea, wine, beer made from malt, waters, and some spirits like vodka, whiskies and rum.
In his statement yesterday, Trudeau added: “Because of the tariffs imposed by the US, Americans will pay more for groceries, gas, and cars, and potentially lose thousands of jobs. Tariffs will disrupt an incredibly successful trading relationship. They will violate the very trade agreement that was negotiated by President Trump in his last term.”
A 25% tariff has also come into play today on Mexican imports to the US.
In a statement on social media platform Truth Social last week, Trump claimed drugs “made in, and supplied by, China”, were “pouring into” the US from Canada and Mexico “at very high and unacceptable levels”, and that tariffs would be implemented “until it stops, or is seriously limited”.
The US President also said the “reciprocal tariff date” of 2 April for the US’ major trading partners “will remain in full force and effect”.
