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US President Donald Trump has said he will place a 35 per cent blanket tariff on all Canadian goods coming into his country on Aug. 1.
In a July 10 letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the president blasted Canada for “having financially retaliated against the United States.”
Trump also blamed Canada’s “extraordinary tariffs” on US dairy products and the country’s supposed “failure to stop [fentanyl] from pouring into” the US.”
“If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl [sic], we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” Trump added.
“These Tariffs [sic] may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country [sic].”
The incendiary letter comes after the two countries agreed to work on a new trade deal by July 21. That agreement followed two meetings between Trump and Carney.
In response to the president’s missive, Carney wrote on X that Canada will now “work towards the revised deadline of August 1.”
He added: “Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries.”
Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) July 11, 2025
Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge…
Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, said Canada “stands united” in the face of “another unjustified attack” from the US president.
“Canada has long been a reliable partner and trusted friend to the United States,” he added. “These tariffs will damage both our countries.”
Trump’s latest mention of fentanyl comes after influential conservative think tank the Manhattan Institute published a report stating that quantities of the drug coming from Canada are “negligible.”
The latest tariff threats are another unjustified attack on Canada’s economy.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 11, 2025
Canada has long been a reliable partner and trusted friend to the United States.
These tariffs will damage both our countries.
All Canadians must come together to defend our economy.
Conservatives…
Highlighting that the vast majority of the deadly drug – 99 per cent of pills, 97 per cent of powder – comes into the US from Mexico, the report’s authors mocked Trump and his officials for their lack of knowledge about the crisis.
“Imagine someone who tried to pinch pennies by getting a friend to drive him to the airport whenever he took a luxury cruise,” they wrote.
“Or imagine a dieter who used artificial sweetener in his coffee whenever he ordered cheesecake for dessert. The US effort to try to solve its fentanyl problem by focusing on the northern border with Canada is similar.”