Canada has lodged an official complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States, protesting President Donald Trump’s latest tariff increases, the WTO confirmed on Wednesday (March 5, 2025). The move comes in response to Washington’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, a decision that has significantly escalated tensions between the two nations. On Tuesday night, Canada’s ambassador to the WTO, Nadia Theodore, announced the filing of the complaint via LinkedIn, stating that the U.S. decision left Canada with no choice. She explained that she had, “on behalf of the government of Canada, requested WTO consultations with the government of the United States regarding its unjustified tariffs.”
A WTO official later confirmed to AFP that Canada initiated dispute proceedings on Tuesday (March 4, 2025), mirroring a similar action taken by China, which also lodged a complaint against the U.S. over its fresh levies on Chinese goods. The trade conflict follows Mr. Trump’s return to office on January 20, when he initially announced – and then temporarily paused – blanket 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, citing their alleged failure to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. However, on Tuesday (March 4, 2025), he moved forward with the tariff hikes, stating that insufficient progress had been made on these issues. In response to Canada’s retaliatory measures, Mr. Trump swiftly threatened further tariffs against the country. Despite the rising tensions, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later suggested that Mr. Trump might be open to a negotiated resolution with Canada and Mexico, hinting that the U.S. could still “work something out” with both countries.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump also signed an order on Monday (March 3, 2025) to double an existing 10% tariff on Chinese imports to 20%, further intensifying trade hostilities with Beijing. Reacting to the new tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly condemned what he described as Washington’s “dumb” trade war. He went a step further, accusing Mr. Trump of deliberately undermining Canada’s economy in an effort to make it easier for the United States to annex the country. Ambassador Nadia Theodore, in her message announcing Canada’s WTO complaint, added a personal touch by mentioning that she had filed it while wearing “my suit from Anishinaabe and Canadian fashion designer Lesley Hampton”. She signed off with “Elbows up”, a reference to Canada’s national sport, hockey, underscoring the country’s defiant stance in the escalating trade dispute.
(This is a developing story)
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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