Canada-U.S. trade tensions continue to escalate as Trump team defends tariffs

WASHINGTON — United States President Donald Trump’s trade czar is downplaying the impacts of the new tariffs that took effect over the weekend, even as Trump himself moved to escalate the trade war.

Today Trump posted on social media that he also intends to double tariffs on Canadian automobiles and auto parts to 50 per cent on Jan. 1.

That comes after trade talks between Canada and the U.S. fell apart Friday, triggering a 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on a host of Canadian goods.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC today that Canadians wanted more than the Trump administration was willing to offer.