Canada

Trump Threatens U.S. Relationship With Canada as Trade Talks Collapse

Canada is one of our largest trading partners. The president imposed 50 percent tariffs on cars, wigs, and hockey sticks.

Joe Lancaster | 8.24.2026 3:25 PM

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(Illustration: Midjourney)

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs against Canada went into effect as talks between the two countries collapsed after weeks of negotiations.

As always, Trump's protectionism is shortsighted and self-defeating. This particular round risks alienating one of our closest allies and trading partners with little to show for it in return.

Last month, Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on a number of Canadian goods, some of which were already subject to tariffs.

The order was only expected to affect about $20 billion in total goods, totaling just under 5 percent of all U.S. imports from Canada. But it targeted a confusing jumble of products: The largest targets included lumber, alcohol, dairy, and textiles, but they also encompassed flags, Christmas ornaments, hockey sticks, dog leashes, and wigs.

In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump said he had added "all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel" to the list.

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump's previous attempt to impose tariffs on the rest of the world. Other statutes—like Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930—also would have allowed Trump to........

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