Trump raises tariffs against Canada, Mexico with trade war looming: ‘Is there risk of this starting to spiral?’

President Donald Trump is raising the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, according to a post from the president on Truth Social, claiming it’s a response to Ontario’s 25% surcharge on electricity exports to several U.S. states.

“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on ‘Electricity’ coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to ad [sic] 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,” Trump wrote on the social media platform, Truth Social.

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The tariffs are set to go into effect on March 12.

“Talking about steel and aluminum specifically here, there is some excitement with the idea that tariffs are going to be placed on Canada and Mexico,” NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton said on “Seattle’s Morning News.” “Imagine basically, to an extent, eliminating your competition, and then it’s just you. That’s why I think companies are a little bit excited about this.”

“Is there at least a risk here of this really starting to spiral, though?” Charlie Harger, host of “Seattle’s Morning News,” asked.

“There is a risk, but I would have to go with the wait-and-see approach and see what actually happens,” Walton answered. “One thing I know for sure is there’s never a dull moment. We’re on our toes every day with this stuff.”

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Listen to the full conversation here:

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, The Reset with Gee Scott. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

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