Borders, Barriers, and the Cost of Control
๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs Trade Strategy in 2025
In response to renewed tariffs from the Trump administration, ๐จ๐ฆ Canada has adopted a measured approach to protect its economy while preserving diplomatic ties. Prime Minister Mark Carneyโs government has lifted many retaliatory tariffs on ๐บ๐ธ U.S. goods covered under CUSMA, aiming to reopen stalled negotiations and maintain ๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs trade advantage. This move has been praised by economists for keeping over 85% of ๐จ๐ฆ Canada-๐บ๐ธ U.S. trade tariff-free, while still signaling strength through targeted countermeasures.
Provincial leaders have responded with a mix of concern and pragmatism. Ontario and Quebec are lobbying for federal support to shield manufacturing jobs, while British Columbia is accelerating trade diversification with Pacific partners. The situation remains fluid, but ๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs strategy reflects a balance of resilience and diplomacy in an increasingly unpredictable global market.
To understand ๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs position in a shifting global economy, explore the broader timeline of international trade policies.
What People Are Saying
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What People Are Saying
"I want to show this to my family overseas."
A timeline of tariff escalation and its global reverberations in 2025
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February 1
Initial tariffs announced under IEEPA
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico: 25% on all goods.
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada: 25% on most goods, 10% on energy products.
February 3
Tariffs paused for 30 days Trump suspends ๐จ๐ฆ Canada/๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico tariffs until March 4.
March 3 โ Blanket Tariff Threat
Sweeping tariffs on all imports: 10% base, up to 25% for surplus nations.
- ๐จ๐ณ China warns of retaliation.
- ๐ช๐บ EU calls it โa major blow to global stabilityโ.
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada expresses โdeep disappointmentโ.
March 4
Tariffs go into effect ๐จ๐ฆ Canada/๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico tariffs resume.
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada 25% across the board, plus 10% on Canadian oil.
March 24โ30
๐ฏ๐ต Japan responds with targeted tariffs on ๐บ๐ธ U.S. electronics and agricultural goods.
Market reaction: Nikkei dips, ๐บ๐ธ U.S. tech stocks wobble, soy futures slide.
April 1โ7
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea and ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico announce joint WTO complaint against ๐บ๐ธ U.S. tariffs. โ Signals a shift toward multilateral resistance.
April 2โ3
โLiberation Dayโ tariffs launched 25% tariffs on auto imports from ๐จ๐ฆ Canada and ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
April 4โ5
๐จ๐ฆ Canada retaliates 25% tariffs on non-USMCA ๐บ๐ธ U.S. auto imports
April 6 โ ๐บ๐ธ U.S. Steel & Aluminum Tariffs
25% on steel, 10% on aluminum; exemptions for ๐จ๐ฆ Canada & ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico pending NAFTA talks.
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico calls move โunjustifiedโ.
- ๐ฏ๐ต Japan seeks WTO consultation.
- ๐ฉ๐ช Germany urges ๐ช๐บ EU-wide response.
April 8โ14
๐บ๐ธ U.S. doubles down with new tariffs on Chinese EVs and solar panels.
- ๐จ๐ณ China threatens rare earth export restrictions.
April 9โ15
Global escalation, partial pause
Trump announces reciprocal tariffs globally, but suspends most for 90 days โ except ๐จ๐ณ China.
April 15
๐จ๐ฆ Canada pauses tariffs on critical ๐บ๐ธ U.S. goods Aimed at protecting its manufacturing sector.
April 15โ21
๐ช๐บ EU imposes retaliatory tariffs on ๐บ๐ธ U.S. digital services and luxury goods.
Apple, Meta, and high-end fashion brands take a hit.
April 22โ28
๐ฎ๐ณ India introduces subsidies for domestic manufacturing in response to global trade instability.
- ๐จ๐ณ China vows โnecessary countermeasuresโ
- ๐ฆ๐บ Australia warns of global slowdown
May 28โ29
๐บ๐ธ U.S. courts strike down key tariffs on Canadian goods Temporarily reinstated on appeal.
May 29 โ ๐จ๐ณ China IP Tariffs
Trump revives threat of $50B in tariffs targeting Chinese tech and IP violations.
- ๐จ๐ณ China cancels trade talks.
- ๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore warns of regional instability.
June 1 โ Tariffs Enacted
Steel/aluminum tariffs take effect for ๐ช๐บ EU, ๐จ๐ฆ Canada, ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico. Exemptions revoked.
- ๐ช๐บ EU imposes retaliatory tariffs.
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada announces $16.6B in countermeasures.
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico targets pork, whiskey, steel.
June 16โ29
G7 Summit in Alberta
Trump and PM Carney set 30-day goal for a trade deal, but talks stall over ๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs tech tax.
July 6 โ ๐จ๐ณ China Tariffs Begin
๐บ๐ธ U.S. imposes 25% tariffs on $34B of Chinese goods; ๐จ๐ณ China responds in kind.
- ๐จ๐ณ China accuses ๐บ๐ธ U.S. of โtrade bullyingโ.
- ๐ฐ๐ท South Korea urges de-escalation.
July 12
Trump announces 30% tariffs on ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico Set to take effect August 1, targeting autos and fentanyl-related goods.
July 31 โ ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico deal extended, ๐จ๐ฆ Canada talks collapse
Trump proposes 25% tariffs on $200B of Chinese imports, up from original 10% plan.
- ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico: 25% tariffs on cars and fentanyl goods remain.
- ๐จ๐ฆ Canada: Trump threatens 35% tariffs on non-CUSMA goods; new 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper announced.
August 1 โ Threat of More Tariffs
Trump proposes 25% tariffs on $200B of Chinese imports, up from original 10% plan.
- ๐จ๐ณ China vows โnecessary countermeasuresโ.
- ๐ฆ๐บ Australia warns of global slowdown.
August 6
The ๐บ๐ธ U.S. doubled down on its trade penalties, bringing the total tariff rate on ๐ฎ๐ณ Indian goods to 50%.
- ๐ฎ๐ณ India hit with additional 25% tariff over Russian oil ties.
August 7
๐บ๐ธ U.S. launches Turnberry system, a new framework aimed at enforcing trade compliance and national security.
Sweeping tariff expansion targeting over 60 countries.
August 29
De Minimis exemption ends for low-value imports. Trump proposed 25% tariffs on $200B of Chinese imports, up from original 10% plan.
Fast fashion and e-commerce platforms (like fast fashion from Shein and Temu) face new tariffs.
September 1
๐จ๐ฆ Canada Lifts Retaliatory Tariffs on CUSMA-Compliant ๐บ๐ธ U.S. Goods
A major shift in ๐จ๐ฆ Canadaโs trade stance, though tariffs on steel, aluminum, and autos remain in place
September 3 โ ๐ช๐บ EU Probes ๐จ๐ณ Chinese Solar Panel Dumping
๐ช๐บ EU launches investigation into low-cost ๐จ๐ณ Chinese solar panels, citing market distortion.
September 5 โ ๐จ๐ณ China Tariffs Australian Lithium
๐จ๐ณ China imposes 10% tariff on lithium from Australia in response to foreign investment curbs.
September 7 โ ๐ฎ๐ณ India Raises Dairy Tariffs
๐ฎ๐ณ India hikes tariffs on dairy imports to protect local producers ahead of festive season.
September 8
$80M Tariff Relief Fund for Atlantic ๐จ๐ฆ Canada
Carney unveiled an $80M relief fund for small and medium-sized businesses in Atlantic ๐จ๐ฆ Canada affected by ๐บ๐ธ U.S. tariffs.
September 8 โ ๐บ๐ธ U.S. Updates Tariff List
New executive order exempts key minerals and pharma; adds items like aluminum hydroxide and silicone.
September 9 โ WTO Panel on ๐ง๐ท Brazilโ๐ช๐บ EU Beef Dispute
WTO forms panel to review ๐ง๐ท Brazilโs complaint over ๐ช๐บ EU beef import restrictions.
September 11
๐ฏ๐ต Japan agrees to invest $550 billion in ๐บ๐ธ U.S.-selected infrastructure and manufacturing projects.
๐ฏ๐ต Japan gets 15% tariffs for $550B investment; profit split shifts from 50/50 to 90/10 favoring ๐บ๐ธ U.S. after payback.
September 16
๐บ๐ธ U.S. imposed a baseline 15% tariff on most ๐ฏ๐ต Japanese Goods
- The rule applies retroactively to Aug. 7, 2025, with importers able to adjust filings.
- Autos/parts follow the same 15% rule
- Civil aircraft/parts are exempt from extra duties.
September 22
๐จ๐ฆ Canadian Tariff Enforcement Tightens on steel and aluminum from ๐จ๐ณ China
Official certificates of origin required for ๐จ๐ณ Chinese goods containing steel or aluminum, which already have a 25% tariff.
September 22
๐น๐ท Turkey announced it is ending certain tariffs imposed on ๐บ๐ธ U.S. imports back in 2018.
The move is a signal of easing trade tensions, timed ahead of President Erdoฤanโs trip to the ๐บ๐ธ U.S.
September 24
๐บ๐ธ U.S. implements ๐ช๐บ EU auto/auto parts tariff cut
๐บ๐ธ U.S. reduced tariff on ๐ช๐บ EU autos and auto parts from 25% to 15%, retroactive to August 1, 2025.
September 26
๐บ๐ธ Trump announces new tariffs on drugs to begin October 1
100% tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical imports (unless the company is building a ๐บ๐ธ U.S. facility)
September 26
๐บ๐ธ Trump announces new tariffs on trucks to begin November 1
25% tariff on heavy trucks
September 26
๐บ๐ธ Trump announces new tariffs on furniture to begin October 1
50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities.
30% on upholstered furniture.
September 27
๐จ๐ณ China and ๐ฎ๐ณ India announce 300% tariffs on ๐บ๐ธ U.S. burgers, targeting McDonaldโs.โ
September 30
๐บ๐ธ U.S. announces 100% tariff on all foreign-made movies. No start date set.
October 1
๐บ๐ธ U.S. shelved plans to impose 100% tariffs on generic drug imports.
October 9
๐จ๐ณ China announced new export restrictions on rare earths and related technologies.
Foreign firms required to obtain licenses for exports involving ๐จ๐ณ Chinese-derived materials or production technology, with full enforcement slated for December 1.
October 10 – ๐บ๐ธ U.S.โ๐จ๐ณ China Tariff Surge
Trump imposed an additional 100% tariff on ๐จ๐ณ Chinese imports, citing retaliation for ๐จ๐ณ Chinaโs expanded export controls on rare earth elements.
The ๐บ๐ธ U.S. will also restrict exports of โany and all critical softwareโ to ๐จ๐ณ China
Nasdaq dropped 3.6%, S&P 500 fell 2.7% following the announcement.
October 17
๐บ๐ธ United States โ New Truck and Bus Tariffs
25% tariffs on imported medium/heavy trucks.
10% on buses.
Takes effect November 1, 2025
October 20
๐จ๐ฆ Canada announced tariff relief on select steel & aluminum imports from the ๐บ๐ธ U.S. and ๐จ๐ณ China
๐จ๐ฆ Effective October 15.
Applies to products not domestically available or needed for health/security sectors.
Details to be published by November 5.
October 23
๐จ๐ฆ Canada Limits Tariff-Free ๐บ๐ธ U.S. Vehicle Imports
โ๏ธ ๐จ๐ฆ Canada imposes new caps on tariff-free imports from Stellantis and GM, enforcing trade deal rules and responding to reduced ๐จ๐ฆ Canadian manufacturing.
October 23
Stellantis Tariff-Free Imports Slashed by 50%
โ๏ธ ๐จ๐ฆ Canada reduces Stellantisโ tariff-free vehicle quota by 50%, citing the companyโs decision to move Jeep Compass production to the ๐บ๐ธ U.S.
October 23
GM Quota Cut by 24.2% Over BrightDrop Exit
โ๏ธ GMโs tariff-free import quota is reduced by 24.2% after ending BrightDrop electric van production in ๐จ๐ฆ Ontario.
October 23 — The Reagan Ad Retaliation
On October 16, ๐จ๐ฆ Ontario aired a ๐บ๐ธ U.S. TV ad quoting Ronald Reaganโs anti-tariff speech.
๐ Trump terminated all ๐บ๐ธ U.S.โ๐จ๐ฆ Canada trade negotiations.
A new 35% tariff was imposed on ๐จ๐ฆ Canadian importsโautomotive, steel, agriculture.
October 25
๐บ๐ธ U.S. Shock Tariff on ๐จ๐ฆ Canada
๐บ๐ธ Trump imposes a 10% tariff on ๐จ๐ฆ Canadian imports in retaliation for Ontarioโs Reagan-themed ad. Lumber and wood products hit immediately.
October 29
๐บ๐ธ ๐จ๐ณ Fentanyl & Rare Earth Shift
๐ ๐บ๐ธ Trump reduced tariffs on fentanyl-linked imports after talks with ๐จ๐ณ Xi. The meeting also yielded a rare earth minerals agreement, easing trade tensions.