Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his government’s disappointment on Friday over the United States’ decision to raise tariffs on Canadian goods from 25 to 35 percent.

The tariff increase, announced in a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump, comes amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that Trump had earlier warned of potential trade consequences after Carney revealed plans to support the recognition of a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

“The Canadian government is disappointed by this action,” Carney said in an official statement.

While some Canadian goods remain protected under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the broader increase will affect key sectors of Canada’s export economy.

Trump’s order cited multiple reasons for the new tariffs, including Canada’s alleged failure to help “curb the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs” into the US, and what the administration called “retaliation” against earlier U.S measures.

Carney, however, defended Canada’s efforts. “Canada accounts for only one percent of US fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes,” he said, adding that the country has also taken steps to boost border security.

Despite the growing tensions, the Canadian leader reaffirmed Ottawa’s commitment to the trilateral trade agreement.

“The US application of CUSMA means that the US average tariff rate on Canadian goods remains one of its lowest for all of its trading partners,” Carney noted.

Still, he acknowledged that several major sectors, including lumber, steel, aluminum, and automobiles remain vulnerable to the rising wave of US tariffs.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that the country is engaged in “intensive negotiations” with the United States to avoid the looming 30-percent tariffs recently announced by President Donald Trump.

The tariffs, initially scheduled to take effect on August 1, have been delayed by one week, giving Pretoria time to push for a resolution.

“Within the window that’s still open, we’re hoping that we will find a way to settle this matter,” Ramaphosa told journalists.

“So intensive negotiations are now under way.”

South Africa is one of nearly 70 nations targeted by the new U.S. tariff regime, which threatens to hit its export economy hard.

The United States is the country’s second-largest trading partner after China, and the new measures could cost the local economy as many as 100,000 jobs, according to central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago.

“Our task is to negotiate as strongly and as hard as we can with the United States,” Ramaphosa added. “Our objective, really, is to save jobs.”

The sectors most at risk from the 30-percent tariff hike include agriculture and automotive manufacturing, both critical industries in a nation grappling with an unemployment rate above 30 percent.

While engaging with Washington, South Africa is also working to diversify its export destinations to reduce dependence on any single market.

“Because it is too risky just to focus on one,” the president explained.

According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, South Africa has proposed to import U.S. liquefied natural gas and agricultural goods as part of its offer to ease trade tensions.

Additionally, South African companies have pledged to invest in the U.S mining and metals recycling sectors, with further plans for joint ventures in pharmaceuticals, agri-machinery, and critical minerals development.

United States President, Donald Trump, has officially imposed a 15 percent tariff on Nigeria and other African countries.

Other countries affected by the new tariff regime include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Madagascar.

The modified reciprocal tariff rates were announced by the White House on Thursday.
This Executive Order, titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates,” said “These modifications shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from the warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 am.”

The US also slammed different degrees of tariffs on South Africa (30 percent), Libya (30 percent), and Tunisia (25 percent).

The list of tariffs also contained the United Kingdom (10 percent), India (25 percent), Japan (15 percent), and other countries.

In April, Trump had slammed sweeping tariffs on global trading partners, imposing 14 percent on Nigeria.

The “reciprocal” tariffs were later postponed for 90 days to allow for time to negotiate individual trade deals, with the deadline moved to August 1.
See how the revised taxes were spread below:
10% – Falkland Islands, United Kingdom, and all other countries not listed in the executive order

15% – Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Costa Rica, Côte d`Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

18% – Nicaragua
19% – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines
20% – Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam
25% – Brunei, India, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tunisia
30% – Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, South Africa
35% – Iraq, Serbia
39% – Switzerland
40% – Laos, Myanmar (Burma)
41% – Syria

US President, Donald Trump, has announced a sweeping set of new tariffs affecting nearly 70 countries, escalating his push to overhaul global trade in favor of American interests.

Among the most notable moves is a sharp 35% tariff on goods imported from neighboring Canada.

The tariffs, formalized in a new executive order, were initially set to take effect immediately but will now begin in one week for most countries, according to a statement from the White House.

This delay is seen as a window for last-minute negotiations.

The administration says the move is meant to assert U.S. economic dominance, bolster domestic manufacturing, and protect American exporters.

Still, the aggressive shift has sparked concerns about inflation and broader economic consequences in the United States, which remains the world’s largest economy.

The new duties follow an earlier round of 10% tariffs imposed in April, which Trump called “reciprocal” in response to what he views as unfair trade practices.

The latest tariffs vary by country, with some reaching as high as 41%.

A further 40% duty will apply to any goods “transshipped” through third countries in an attempt to sidestep the U.S tariff wall, the executive order states.

Canada, which had been subject to a 25% tariff, now faces a 35% duty starting Friday.

Trump’s order singles out Canada’s “retaliation” to earlier U.S actions and accuses the country of failing to “cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.”

The decision also follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that his government plans to recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September, a move Trump had warned could carry trade consequences.

In response, Carney said his administration was “disappointed” by the tariff hike and defended Canada’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and bolster border security.

Trump offered more time to Mexico, another major trading partner, delaying a proposed tariff increase from 25% to 30% for 90 days following talks with President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Some exemptions remain in place under the North American trade pact, shielding various Canadian and Mexican goods from the new duties.

Despite recent bilateral agreements with Japan, the European Union, and other partners, the long-term effectiveness of Trump’s trade strategy remains uncertain.

“No doubt about it, the executive order and related agreements concluded over the past few months tears up the trade rule book that has governed international trade since World War II,” said Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

“Whether our partners can preserve it without the United States is an open question,” she added.

China, notably absent from the latest tariff action, responded to U.S. trade protectionism with strong words.

“The Chinese side’s opposition to tariffs has been consistent and clear,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.
“There is no winner in a tariff war or trade war.”

The expanded tariffs come amid growing legal scrutiny. Trump’s reliance on emergency economic powers has drawn lawsuits, and a U.S. Court of Appeals is currently hearing arguments on whether the president overstepped his authority.

While Trump boasts of rising customs revenues, economists warn the broader impact could be more harmful than helpful, potentially fueling inflation across sectors.

Still, some countries have negotiated lower tariffs to avoid steeper penalties.

Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, and the EU were among those striking deals to avert harsher rates.

In the latest round of adjustments:

Switzerland now faces a 39% tariff.

Taiwan’s duty was reduced from 32% to 20%, though President Lai Ching-te pledged to lobby for further reductions.

Cambodia and Thailand saw their tariffs cut to 19% — down from initially proposed levels of 49% and 36%, respectively.

The UK, though not previously targeted by reciprocal tariffs, also reached a trade agreement with Washington.

China remains under a separate timeline, with new tariff decisions expected by August 12.

Though both countries had previously escalated tariffs to triple-digit levels, they have since agreed to temporary reductions while talks continue.