Focus — U.S. ban on $1 billion of Canadian imports takes effect

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 /ATSH–AA/ — The U.S. ban on around $1 billion worth of imports from Canada, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motor vehicles, took effect today.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the sale of certain goods imported from Canada in the United States.

While the restriction on nearly $1 billion worth of products is not expected to have a major economic impact compared with the $880 billion in annual bilateral trade between the two countries, the development marks a new phase in the ongoing trade disputes with Canada, a longtime U.S. ally and trading partner.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the measures are a direct result of Canada’s discriminatory treatment of critical American exports. The list of banned goods imported from Canada includes selected alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motor vehicles.

In July, the U.S. administration announced it would apply a 50 percent tariff on certain Canadian goods, claiming Ottawa had engaged in discriminatory practices against American products; those tariffs took effect on August 22.

In response, the Canadian government announced tariffs of 15, 25 or 50 percent on certain American products, which took effect on September 8.