Trump announces new import bans on Canadian motorcycles, dairy and alcohol

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will prohibit imports of selected Canadian motorcycles, dairy items and alcoholic beverages, with the bans set to take effect on Sept. 29. The measures were signed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a provision that had not been used until the administration imposed new duties on Canada in August.

Administration officials said the action responds to Canada’s recent retaliatory tariffs that went into force at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, covering a broad range of goods such as steel, dairy, appliances and electronics. The White House also indicated that existing tariffs on cement, road salt and hospital pads have been removed and replaced with duties on all-terrain vehicles, certain cheeses and motorboats.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai noted that Canada is one of only two countries that have imposed retaliatory measures against the United States, joining China in that distinction.

"That’s not the kind of company you really want to be running in," Tai said in August.

Justin Trudeau’s office has said negotiations with the United States remain stalled, describing U.S. demands as "uneconomic" and "unfair." The Canadian industry minister, Mélanie Joly, affirmed that Canada will continue to refer to Lake Ontario by its traditional name despite U.S. proposals to rename it.

"We’ll always call it Lake Ontario. Period," Joly said.

The administration also indicated that a proposal for 50% duties on cars and trucks remains under consideration, though no final decision has been announced. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other officials have reiterated the United States’ intent to maintain pressure on Canada until a resolution is reached.