Trump Delays 50% Tariffs on Canadian Imports After Last-Minute Talks

US President Donald Trump delayed plans to impose 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports after last-minute negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Malek Fouda reported for Euronews.

US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held last-minute talks as Washington prepared to impose new tariffs on Canadian imports. [Photo: The White House Facebook]

Trump said Tuesday that the tariffs would be delayed after the two countries held last-minute discussions ahead of the scheduled implementation. The development gave Washington and Ottawa additional time to negotiate and avoid an immediate escalation of the trade dispute.

Had the tariffs taken effect as scheduled at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, they would have applied to Canadian products ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors.

Canada had threatened to retaliate with tariffs of its own, potentially escalating a trade conflict between two countries whose economic relationship is deeply integrated.

Carney and Trump spoke twice by phone over the preceding two days, including a call Tuesday afternoon, according to Carney's office, underscoring the urgency of the negotiations.

Canada had objected to a 13-point list of US demands that Ottawa said interfered with Canadian domestic economic policy and foreign investment decisions.

The US also sought changes involving tariffs on heavy vehicles and duties on US agricultural products.

Canada remains heavily dependent on the US market, with nearly 72% of its goods exports going to the United States last year.