U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 35% tariffs on Canadian imports on Aug. 1 in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Thursday night, evidently setting a new date for bilateral negotiations between the two countries.
Canada and the United States had committed to working on a new economic and security agreement with a July 21 deadline for a deal. In the letter, Trump said that if Canada works to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, he may consider a tariff adjustment.
Trump also pointed to supply management in the dairy sector, repeating his inaccurate claim about Canada putting 400% tariffs on American dairy farmers. The president said the trade deficit with Canada is a threat to the American economy and national security.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11
