Canada to retaliate for US tariffs, worsening ties after talks fail

Business Recorder reported that Ottawa plans to hit a range of American goods with counter-duties in reply to the 50% levies Washington placed on Canadian products. Canadian premier Mark Carney announced the step on Saturday, saying the matching duties will start on September 8 and cover US steel and electronics. The move follows a late-Friday collapse of talks after three days of intense negotiations.

Each government blamed the other for derailing the talks, and the breakdown adds strain to the US-Mexico-Canada free-trade pact. The new American tariffs hit wine, furniture, dairy, cement, clothing and hockey equipment, covering about $20 billion in Canadian sales to the US, and they do not exempt goods shielded under the three-nation deal.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described the breakdown as a missed opportunity and said no fresh talks were scheduled with Canada. Carney added that Ottawa will announce support for affected industries next week and publish fuller details of its response in the coming days.