Golf carts, pony fur, bamboo furniture, and mezcal could soon be unlikely casualties of the US’ intensifying trade war with Canada.
The tariffs would also safeguard American workers, farmers, and manufacturers from foreign competition. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney put American-made golf clubs on his own tariff list, a nod to Trump’s favourite sport. The products on the list are not items that the US relies on Canada for, as they are either readily available domestically or can be imported from other nations.
The Donald Trump administration added the items, and dozens of others, to a list of goods that may face 50% tariffs or outright bans later this month if they were imported into the country from Canada.
The White House said the proposed move was aimed at what the Trump administration claims is Canada’s “discriminatory” treatment of American goods. Washington also said that the step was in response to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, which took effect Tuesday. A senior Trump administration official told CNN that the items on the list were deliberately chosen to lessen the financial impact on Americans.
Trump has also moved to shut Canadian products out of large, long-term government contracts in the US. He has directed the US General Services Administration to declare the items ineligible for such contracts until Ottawa allows “full and fair reciprocity″ for American products.
