Trump imposes import ban on Canadian dairy products, alcohol and motorcycles

The US government under President Donald Trump has announced a ban on imports of dairy products, most alcoholic beverages and motorcycles from Canada. According to the information, the ban will come into force in three weeks. The announcement came on the day that counter-tariffs that Canada will impose on U.S. imports went into effect.

Trump had previously announced that he would deny Canadian companies access to US government procurement. In a post on his online platform, he instructed his own authorities to take appropriate steps to remove products of Canadian origin from procurement lists. These list companies from which US authorities can obtain products and services through framework agreements.

Trump coupled his order with a demand that U.S. companies, including dairy farmers, be given equal access to the Canadian market. In the customs dispute, the US President repeatedly says that there is a trade imbalance to the detriment of the USA. He also used this argument to impose tariffs on numerous other countries.

Trade talks had failed

Trade talks between the USA and its northern neighbor Canada had recently failed. In August, the USA therefore imposed tariffs of 50 percent on Canadian goods worth around 20 billion US dollars, including hockey sticks, furniture, honey and wine. Canada then announced counter-tariffs. This affects products from the steel and aluminum sectors, household appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics.