Washington – Arab Canada News

US President Donald Trump announced today a new and extensive package of tariffs on key imports, describing it as a "historic move to liberate the US economy from decades of trade theft," in shocking statements where he referred to the United States as "ransacked, robbed, economically violated," in his words.

Key points from Trump's announcement:

Imposing new tariffs ranging from 25% to 60% on:

Cars and spare parts

Medicines and medical equipment

Steel and aluminum

Energy and fuel products

Electronic goods and some food items

The implementation of these tariffs will take place in the coming days, with threats to expand them if "trade imbalance" is not "rebalanced."

Trump stated:

"It’s time to stop the theft. We are not an open bank for our trading partners. Today we begin to reclaim our economic dignity."

Canadian response in preparation: Carney prepares for emergency meetings

In the Canadian capital, Prime Minister Mark Carney's office confirmed that the government is holding emergency meetings with senior economic and trade officials, alongside the Canada-U.S. Trade and Security Council, to assess the implications of this step on Canadian sectors.

A senior government source stated that Ottawa "does not rule out imposing reciprocal tariffs," adding that the current priority is "to ensure the stability of supply chains, and to protect jobs and strategic sectors from the immediate impact."

Analysis: What do the new tariffs mean for Canada?

According to economic analysts, Canada will be one of the most affected countries by this US package for several reasons:

Canadian exports to America represent more than 70% of total Canadian foreign trade.

The tariffs on cars and spare parts will severely hit the automotive manufacturing sector in Ontario, threatening thousands of jobs.

Imposing tariffs on energy and derivatives may lead to price distortions in oil and gas, hindering crude oil exports.

Targeting pharmaceutical industries will negatively impact Canadian companies supplying medical supplies to US hospitals.

Financial analyst Eric Laurent states that "Canada faces an unprecedented situation and may find itself forced to seek urgent trade alternatives and strengthen its partnerships with the European Union and Asia."

Conclusion: Escalation without a clear ceiling

The new US tariffs represent a sharp escalation in the trade war that has been brewing for months, opening the door to a series of retaliatory responses that could lead to mutual economic recession if a swift agreement is not reached.

In this context, Canada finds itself at a crossroads: either to respond in kind and risk further escalation or to enter into new negotiations with the Trump administration in an unstable trade environment.