Fact Check: Did Canada Have Tariffs Before 2025?
What We Know
The claim that Canada had tariffs before 2025 is misleading. Prior to the trade war initiated in 2025, Canada had a relatively low tariff regime on goods imported from the United States, largely due to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which eliminated tariffs on 98% of goods entering Canada from the U.S. (source-3).
Historically, Canada has imposed tariffs on U.S. goods, especially during earlier trade disputes. However, the context of the current claim revolves around the specific timeline of tariffs that were enacted as part of the 2025 trade war, which began on February 1, 2025, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods (source-1).
Before this escalation, Canada had maintained a cooperative trade relationship with the U.S., with tariffs being minimal and largely regulated under CUSMA. The tariffs that Canada imposed in response to U.S. tariffs in 2025 were retaliatory and not indicative of a pre-existing tariff regime (source-2).
Analysis
The assertion that Canada had tariffs before 2025 lacks nuance. While Canada has historically imposed tariffs, the nature and extent of these tariffs have changed significantly over time. The current trade environment, particularly under CUSMA, has led to a significant reduction in tariffs on goods traded between Canada and the U.S. (source-3).
The 2025 trade war marked a dramatic shift in this relationship, with the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada and Canada retaliating with its own tariffs (source-1). The historical context provided by sources indicates that while Canada has had tariffs in the past, the current claim does not accurately reflect the state of trade relations leading up to 2025, which were characterized by low tariffs and cooperative agreements.
Moreover, the sources discussing the historical context of tariffs (source-5, source-4) provide a broader perspective but do not support the claim that Canada had significant tariffs in place before the trade war escalated in 2025.
Conclusion
The claim that Canada had tariffs before 2025 is False. While Canada has a history of imposing tariffs, the context of the question pertains to the specific trade environment leading up to 2025, which was characterized by minimal tariffs due to agreements like CUSMA. The significant tariffs that were enacted in 2025 were a result of a trade war initiated by the U.S., not a continuation of a pre-existing high-tariff regime.
Sources
- Timeline of the 2025 United States trade war with Canada
- 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico
- What did Canada tariff before the trade war with the U.S.?
- Before Trump: The long US history of tariff wars with Canada and the world
- Canada Tariffs on U.S. Goods History Over Time
- Just facts: Canadian Tariffs
- U.S.-Canada Tariffs: Timeline of Key Dates and Documents
- Fact Check: Did Canada have tariffs before 2025