US bans $1bn of Canadian imports

The United States has imposed a ban on nearly $1 billion worth of selected Canadian imports, marking another escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the two North American neighbours.

The restrictions, which took effect on Tuesday, cover a range of Canadian products, including certain alcoholic beverages, dairy goods and motor vehicles. The measures were introduced through an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action was taken in response to what Washington described as discriminatory treatment of American exports by Canada.

The latest restrictions are relatively small compared with the scale of trade between the two countries. The US and Canada conduct around $880 billion in annual bilateral trade, meaning the newly prohibited imports are unlikely to have a major overall economic impact.

However, the move adds to growing tensions between the long-standing trading partners. In July, the US administration announced a 50% tariff on certain Canadian products, accusing Ottawa of adopting measures that disadvantaged American goods. Those tariffs came into effect on August 22.

Canada responded with its own trade measures. The Canadian government introduced tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on selected US products, with the new duties taking effect on September 8.

The latest US import restrictions and Canada’s retaliatory tariffs have further complicated economic relations between the two countries as both governments continue to defend their trade policies.