Trump threatens 50% tariffs on all cars and trucks from Canada amid trade fight

By David Shepardson and Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to raise U.S. tariffs on all cars, trucks and automotive parts from Canada to 50% starting January 1, 2027, escalating a trade fight after negotiations collapsed last week.

The trade deal on the table would have cut the top-line tariff rate on Canadian cars and light-duty trucks from 25% to 15% and the tariffs on aluminum and steel from 50% to 25% but the deal fell apart on Friday over a number of points of contention including whether the U.S. tariff relief would have applied to medium- or heavy-duty trucks.

The escalation threatens to disrupt one of the world’s most integrated auto supply chains. U.S. auto production is heavily reliant on Canadian-made parts and vehicles, and higher tariffs could raise costs for American automakers and consumers while deepening a trade standoff that has already weighed on auto stocks.

“Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS. Canada will be treated like a State no longer!” Trump wrote in a social media post.

“On Trade, and in other ways, also, they are among the worst Nations in the World to deal with. They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!” Trump said.

Trump wants Canada to come to the table and negotiate in good faith, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Monday.

AUTO STOCKS DECLINE ON TRUMP WARNING

Auto stocks fell on the news. Shares of Ford and Stellantis were down 3.6% and 4.2%, respectively, while shares of General Motors were down 1.6% on Monday afternoon. Toyota stock was down 1.5% in New York trading and Honda shares were down 2.1%. 

Canada has consistently been one of the top two U.S. trading partners and last year, U.S. goods and services trade with Canada totaled $872.3 billion, down 4.6%.

Canada exported about three-quarters of its goods to the U.S. and imported almost half of its goods from the U.S., the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office said.

Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said: “A threatened U.S. tariff on Canadian auto parts will be paid by (the) US auto assembly. Without those specific parts, auto assembly throughout the U.S. would halt.” 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking more details on the threatened tariffs. Representatives of the Canadian government also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CANADA ANNOUNCES RETALIATORY TARIFFS

Canada will impose tariffs on some U.S. goods starting September 8 in retaliation for 50% ​levies ordered by Trump on $20 billion in Canadian products.

“You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday when asked whether Canada was engaged in a trade war.

Three in four Canadians approved of Carney’s decision to walk away from trade negotiations with the United States late on Friday night, according to an opinion poll by the Angus Reid Institute on Sunday.

Many automakers have announced or are considering plans to scale back Canadian auto production and the trade standoff has led to a 22% reduction in Canadian imports of U.S. vehicles, according to the White House.

Major automakers did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.

INDUSTRY SKEPTICISM OVER TARIFF

Auto executives, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, raised skepticism about Trump’s threat, noting that he has previously announced tariffs that were later scaled back or delayed.

They also noted that January was months after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections in November, and that Trump’s threat could be aimed at restarting talks.

In January of this year, Trump said the U.S. would decertify Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatened 50% import tariffs on all aircraft made in Canada until the country’s regulator certified a number of planes produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream.

 Neither occurred, but the following month Canada certified several Gulfstream planes.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson, Daphne Psaledakis and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Susan Heavey, Chizu Nomiyama and Matthew Lewis)