Ottawa – Arab Canada News

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced today, Thursday, the imposition of countervailing duties of 25% on American cars, in a retaliatory move against the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which have caused widespread turmoil in Canadian and international markets.

Carney said during a press conference in Ottawa following an emergency meeting with the heads of provincial governments:

“We will not stand idly by while our national industry is targeted. These tariffs aim to protect Canadian workers and maintain our industrial capacities.”

For his part, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre announced a plan to lower the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on cars manufactured in Canada, in an attempt to balance the impact of the U.S. tariffs and encourage Canadian consumers to support the local industry.

Poilievre said during an election rally in Alberta:

“Instead of raising prices, we will lower taxes on Canadians who buy their cars here. It’s a positive way to confront Washington, by supporting the Canadian consumer.”

Background:

These developments came in the wake of Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on imported cars, including those coming from Canada, which led to a sharp decline in financial market indicators and a significant drop in the value of the Canadian dollar.

The automotive industry is a key pillar of the Canadian economy, particularly concentrated in Ontario, where it provides thousands of jobs and plays a crucial role in cross-border supply chains with the United States.