U.S. President Donald Trump is now delaying tariffs on some Canadian goods until April 2, according to media reports.
The exemption applies to all goods under the North American free trade agreement, known as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
The move comes just two days after Trump implemented 25 per cent tariffs on nearly all Canadian imports on Tuesday.
Canada fired back by bringing forward its own 25 per cent tariff on $30 billion worth of goods coming into our country from the United States.
In response to Thursday’s development, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada will pause the second wave of tariffs on $125 billion of U.S. products until April 2 while the government continues to work for the removal of all tariffs.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects the trade war will continue for the “foreseeable future.”
“The focus we have right now is on reducing the impacts of the tariffs. I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war that was launched by the United States for the foreseeable future,” said Trudeau.
“We are trying to reduce the areas and the impact that these tariffs that the Americans are bringing in will have on Canadian workers.
“But Canada will continue to stand firm and unequivocally that as long as there are tariffs on us from the United States that are completely unjustified, we will be responding strongly.”
Trump said 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum will still take effect next Wednesday, along with reciprocal tariffs on April 2.
