Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminium, Effective Midnight

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminium imports, set to take effect at midnight. Read more on the trade tensions.

Premier Doug Ford announced that the Canadian province of Ontario will temporarily halt its plan to implement a 25% tariff on electricity exported to northern U.S. states.

The reversal follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who stated he would increase tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%.

Ford stated that negotiations between his province and the Trump administration continue, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick extending an invitation for Ford to visit Washington.

After Ford’s pause, Trump informs reporters that he is “considering” retracting the doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

Previously, the White House described a distinct threat from Ontario to halt electricity exports affecting 1.5 million American homes as “egregious and insulting.”

Just a reminder: Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods imported from other countries. The companies importing these goods are responsible for paying the tax to the government.

Trump announced that the tariffs are set to commence on Wednesday and mentioned his intention to declare “a national emergency on electricity” in those states.

This recent escalation follows the worst day in 2025 for U.S. markets, driven by concerns over President Trump’s aggressive tariffs on America’s major trading partners.

It’s unusual to witness a White House news conference in any administration where a US ally is discussed with the tone used today concerning Canada, even during times when officials in Washington have been clearly frustrated with their international partners.

At one point, Leavitt shared statistics about the cost of living in major Canadian cities, suggesting that their residents might be “better served” if Canada were to become the 51st state of the US, as Trump has proposed.

The White House attitude toward Canada is markedly different from its approach to Mexico, which has also been threatened with tariffs.

Recently, Trump remarked that he had a “great relationship” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. This week, The Washington Post referred to her as “the world’s greatest Trump whisperer.”

We recently received an update from Ontario’s leader, Doug Ford. At the beginning of his news conference, he revealed that he has decided to temporarily halt a 25% surcharge on electricity that his province supplies to 1.5 million American homes. This decision follows US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick extending an “olive branch.”

Earlier today, President Trump warned that he might double the tariffs set to be implemented tomorrow on Canadian steel and aluminum as a reaction to Ontario’s increase in electricity prices. However, this afternoon after speaking with Ford, Trump indicated he could potentially reduce these import duties.

Attention will now turn to an upcoming meeting scheduled for Thursday in Washington between Ford and Lutnick, according to Lutnick. Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc is expected to be among those present.

Ford warned that Ontario still possesses electricity as a bargaining chip. However, he expressed willingness to meet with the Americans and allow “cooler heads to prevail,” indicating he would not forgo such an opportunity.

Donald Trump has just responded to Doug Ford’s decision to reverse the imposition of a 25% tariff on electricity exported from his province to northern U.S. states.

The president informed reporters at the White House that he is now contemplating reducing the 50% tariffs he announced earlier on Tuesday.

Trump mentioned that he’s “considering it” and might “choose a different course of action.”

Trump then confirmed that the “strong man in Canada”—referring to Ford, who had previously threatened to cut off electricity exports to the US—has put his own tariff plans on hold.

“I have respect for that,” Trump stated.