A timeline of Trump’s tariff threats and actions against Canada

Here are the key announcements and actions Trump has taken since he returned to the White House and launched his trade war with Canada, and how we got here.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been in office for less than 100 days, but he has already imposed tariffs on Canada and other key trading partners — with threats of more to come.

The growing trade war between the U.S. and Canada has sparked retaliation from Ottawa and the provinces, roiled stock markets and raised recession and inflation fears on both sides of the border.

Trump has stuck firm to his belief that tariffs on foreign importers will raise billions of dollars in revenue for the U.S. that will help address the national debt and bring manufacturing and investment back to the country after decades of free trade.

Economists almost universally agree the tariffs amount to an extra tax on importers, despite Trump’s promises during his presidential campaign to lower corporate tax rates.

Most consequentially for Canadians, though, is the betrayal many feel from a historically close ally, leaving almost 70 per cent thinking less of Americans as a result of the tariffs.

The tariffs have led to a wave of patriotism across Canada, and efforts to diversify trade and business contracts away from the U.S. are underway across all levels of government.

Here are the key announcements and actions Trump has taken since he returned to the White House and launched his trade war with Canada, and how we got here:

Jan. 20, 2025: Trump, speaking while signing executive orders hours after his inauguration as president, says he plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico by Feb. 1. The comment follows through on his initial threat on social media on Nov. 25 that tariffs would be imposed on both countries due to border security concerns, particularly fentanyl.