Trump tariffs: US taxes imports from Canada, Mexico and China

“We don’t want to be here, we didn’t ask for this,” he said at a news conference late on Saturday.

“But we will not back down in standing up for Canadians.”

His government will impose 25% tariffs on $155bn worth of American goods – $30bn will come into force on Tuesday and another $125bn in 21 days.

Targeted items include American beer, wine, bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, perfumes, clothing and shoes, as well as household appliances, sporting goods and furniture. Lumber and plastics will also face levies.

Non-tariff measures being considered are related to critical minerals and procurement, although Trudeau did not offer more detail.

The Canadian prime minister pushed back on the suggestion the shared border posed a security concern, saying less than 1% of fentanyl going into the United States comes from Canada.

In a bid to avoid the tariffs altogether, Ottawa had promised to implement $1.3bn Canadian dollars ($900m; £700m) of new security measures along its US border.

“Tariffs are not the best way we can work together to save lives,” Trudeau said.

He also said he had not spoken to Trump since the inauguration, but would keep lines open with US counterparts.

Canada is America’s largest foreign supplier of crude oil. According to the most recent official trade figures, 61% of oil imported into the US between January and November last year came from Canada.

China said in a statement that it was strongly dissatisfied with the levies and “firmly opposes” them. The 10% tax will be added over and above tariffs already imposed on China by Trump in his first term and by President Joe Biden.

It added that it would file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization against the US for its “wrongful practice”. “Trade and tariff wars have no winners,” said a spokesperson at China’s Washington embassy.

China’s Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month that his country was looking for a “win-win” solution to trade tensions and wanted to expand its imports.

US industry groups have also raised alarm bells.

The auto sector could be especially hard hit. Auto parts cross the three borders multiple times before a final vehicle is assembled. TD Economics suggest the average US car price could increase by around $3,000.

A January report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics suggested blanket 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico would slow growth and accelerate inflation in all three countries.

On Friday, Trump acknowledged there could be “some temporary, short-term disruption” from the tariffs.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a statement saying tariffs will have “immediate and direct consequences on Canadian and American livelihoods” and will “drastically increase the cost of everything for everyone”.