Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on more than 600 US goods, escalating the trade dispute between two neighbours. The tariffs targeting US merchandise officially came into force last night.

Canadian commercial enterprises are operating under the federal government’s newly implemented dollar-for-dollar tariffs, covering approximately 28 billion US dollars’ worth of American imports. The measures, which took effect at midnight, impose tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on more than 600 US products. The affected goods include industrial materials such as steel and aluminium, household essentials such as toilet paper, and specialised products such as coin-operated arcade machines.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to stop purchasing Canadian products through the government’s primary procurement catalogue until Ottawa provides American businesses and farmers with equal access to the Canadian market. The directive instructs the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to immediately begin removing Canadian products from federal procurement channels.

In a social media post, Trump accused Canada of unfair trade practices, alleging that Canadian federal and provincial governments prevent American small businesses from selling to public-sector entities while Canadian companies enjoy relatively open access to US government contracts.