Trump announces new 50% tariffs from January, escalating US-Canada trade war

US President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, automotive parts and steel to 50 percent from January 1, escalating the Canada-US trade war.

Trump announced the planned tariffs in a Truth Social post on Monday, accusing Canada of unfair trade practices and arguing that US farmers have been hurt by Canadian tariffs.

"Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS. Canada will be treated like a State no longer!" Trump wrote.

The announcement prompted a sharp response from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who told CBC News that: "We need to throw everything in the kitchen sink at them. He's arrogant; he's cocky," Ford said.

"And that's all Donald Trump is … a bully. Well, he's going to have a rude awakening."

Ford also told The Associated Press that Canada should consider cutting supplies of electricity and critical minerals to the US if the trade dispute worsens.

"I'll cut them off. You won't get a grain of sand out of Ontario," Ford said of critical mineral exports.

The latest threat comes as trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa deepen, with both countries already imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of each other's goods.