Canada to file WTO claim against Trump’s tariffs

OTTAWA - Ottawa will file a World Trade Organisation (WTO) claim against US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and also seek redress under a regional free trade deal, said a Canadian official on Feb 2.

“The Canadian government clearly considers these tariffs to be a violation of trade commitments that the United States has taken,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told a briefing.

After weeks of threats, Mr Trump on Feb 1

signed off on tariffs of 25 per cent

on all Canadian imports except energy resources, which will be hit with a 10 per cent levy.

“We will obviously pursue the legal recourse that we believe we have through the agreements that we share with the United States,” the official said, citing the WTO and Canada-US-Mexico agreement, known as Cusma, that Mr Trump himself signed in 2018.

A review of the pact, which a Canadian official called a “gold-standard agreement”, was due to be held in 2026.

Ottawa also unveiled on Feb 2

a list of 1,256 American goods it plans to target

in a first round of counter-tariffs worth C$30 billion (S$28 billion) starting on Feb 4.

The list includes cosmetics, appliances, tires, tools, plastics, furniture, coffee, wines and spirits, dairy and fruits.

Officials said the Canadian tariffs do not specifically target Republican states, but aim to put pressure on lawmakers with influence over Mr Trump, who are more likely to be Republicans.

A second round of counter-tariffs could be announced in the coming weeks, when the total amount of products targeted would rise to C$155 billion.

“Our hope is that the actions we have taken already will be sufficient to persuade the United States that it has gone down the wrong path and that they will reach out to work with us on how to get back to a more normal state,” an official said.

“If not, the Prime Minister and others have indicated that all options remain on the table, and there are a suite of additional measures that could be contemplated.” AFP