The facts are now clear after President Donald Trump claimed that Canada is “one of the highest tariffing nations” in the world.
Earlier this week, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to post a lengthy statement about his stance on the neighboring country.
The U.S. president wrote: “Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% tariff on ‘electricity’ coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.”
Donald Trump’s claim has been proven wrong
Trump continued: “This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th. Additionally, Canada must immediately eliminate their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will soon be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will enable the U.S. to take swift action to counter this abusive threat from Canada.”
He also warned that he will ‘substantially increase’ on 2 April and ‘permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada’.
However, what Trump claimed appears to be incorrect.
In reality, Canada is a low-tariff country compared to many others worldwide.
According to World Bank data, Canada had a lower average tariff rate than the U.S. in 2022. Out of 137 countries ranked by tariff levels, Canada was 102nd—far from being one of the highest.
Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics and trade at the Cato Institute, dismissed Trump’s claim as “nonsense.”
