WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was delaying the 50 percent US tariffs on Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect.
"I have paused the 50 percent Tariffs against Canada that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three-day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
If they had gone into effect as scheduled on Wednesday, Trump's import taxes would have hit Canadian products ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors.
Trump had signed orders for the 50 percent duties last month, with the White House alleging "discriminatory treatment" by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products.
They target around 5.5 percent of Canada's exports to the US, worth about $20 billion, Oxford Economics estimates.
