Trump administration blasts Ford's business deals with Chinese firms

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White House targets alcohol, dairy, and consumer goods while Ottawa defends US$20 billion in retaliatory duties

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated his trade war against Canada, banning imports of alcohol and various products and raising tariffs on others, with the conflict showing no sign of abating.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stood firm, acknowledging that reducing economic ties with the United States would come at a cost but saying the benefits would outweigh the pain.

A range of Canadian products, from mattresses to motorboats and golf carts, would be subject to a 50 per cent surcharge beginning September 15, according to Trump’s executive order issued late Tuesday.

The import ban, which targets various alcoholic beverages as well as some dairy products like whey, would come into effect on September 29, according to other executive orders issued at the same time.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs came into effect earlier Tuesday, applying to C$27.6 billion (US$20 billion) in US imports, including steel and aluminium products and dairy goods such as cheese, in response to duties announced by Washington on August 22.

Canada has “everything we need to pivot and prosper,” Carney said in a video address.