Canada rejects US trade terms, plans counter-tariffs on steel and dairy

OTTAWA, Canada — Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will not accept the terms Washington has set for a trade agreement, announcing reciprocal tariffs on US steel and dairy products in response to American duties. Carney said the concessions demanded by the United States cannot be granted and ruled out meeting the US position. The new Canadian tariffs are scheduled to take effect on September 8, according to the announcement. Carney framed the measures as a direct response to high US customs duties, signaling Ottawa's willingness to escalate rather than concede on key sectors of bilateral trade. Trade negotiations between the two countries have made little headway, with both sides holding firm and exchanging sharp measures to defend their positions. Carney's remarks indicate that Canada's strategy will be to impose costs on politically sensitive American exports rather than accept terms it considers unfavorable. No further details on the next round of talks or the scope of the planned tariffs were immediately available.