EventAction
Canada adds 25% counter-tariffs on C$29.8B of US steel, aluminum and other goods.
Effective 13 March 2025, one day after the 25% US steel and aluminum tariffs took effect, Canada applied 25% tariffs on C$29.8 billion of US goods: steel (C$12.6 billion), aluminum (C$3 billion) and other products such as consumer goods (C$14.2 billion). The tariffs on the other products were removed on 1 September 2025.
- Date
- Kind
- Tariff action
- Where
- Canada
- Evidence
- Action: Something was done: a law switched on, a tariff imposed, money committed. How evidence is weighed
- Who
- United States federal government (target); Government of Canada (acted)
Sources
- Justice Canada, “United States Surtax Order (Steel and Aluminum 2025), SOR/2025-95 (consolidated)” (external site), . source record
- Blakes (Blake, Cassels & Graydon), “U.S.–Canada Tariffs: Timeline of Key Dates and Documents” (external site), . source record
Tested hypotheses: a thought experiment
Suppose Washington foresaw and wanted this. Would this event look any different than under the rival readings? This is a deliberately contrarian test, explained here, not the author’s belief. Judgments, not measurements.
Non-discriminating: this event fits the plain self-interest reading and the foresight reading equally. It does not tell them apart. What this means
| Reading | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I0a Accident Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I0b Plain self-interest; Canada's response not considered Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I1 Foreseen and welcomed, not the reason Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I2 Foreseen and wanted (this level or higher) Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I3 Worked-out plan with specific targets Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-annex Annexation Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-frag Fragmentation Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-weaken Weaken-Canada rivals (annexation or fragmentation) Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada's steel and aluminum counter-tariffs are a Canadian action; they say nothing about US intent or rival goals. |