Canada responds to US levies with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs

Trade relations between the United States and Canada have fractured following the failure of last-minute negotiations to prevent new import duties. Washington enacted 50 percent tariffs under Section 338 targeting approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, affecting roughly five percent of Canada's total annual exports to the US.

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended ongoing trade negotiations and announced a matching "dollar-for-dollar" retaliatory package. Ottawa's counter-tariffs hit nearly C$28 billion in American imports, applying levies of up to 50 percent on products ranging from steel and furniture to agriculture and apparel. The Canadian government is also rolling out domestic support programs to cushion workers and businesses from economic fallout. US officials previously warned that any retaliation could prompt further tariff increases.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald