Fact Check: Did canada have tarrifs on the US before 2025

Fact Check: "Did Canada have tariffs on the US before 2025"

What We Know

The claim that Canada had tariffs on the U.S. before 2025 is misleading. Historically, the trade relationship between the two countries has been characterized by a series of agreements aimed at reducing tariffs. The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) was established in 1989, which was later superseded by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994. These agreements significantly reduced tariffs on goods traded between Canada and the U.S. to the point where, under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), approximately 98% of goods entering Canada from the U.S. were tariff-free before the trade war initiated in 2025 (source-4).

Prior to the trade war that began on February 1, 2025, Canada did impose tariffs on certain U.S. goods, particularly in sectors like dairy, poultry, and eggs, but these were limited and did not represent a broad tariff regime against U.S. imports (source-5). The tariffs that were in place were primarily a result of historical trade agreements and protective measures for specific domestic industries.

Analysis

The assertion that Canada had tariffs on the U.S. before 2025 lacks context. While it is true that Canada maintained some tariffs on specific goods, the overall trade framework between the two nations was heavily oriented towards free trade, especially after the implementation of NAFTA and later USMCA. The tariffs that existed were not representative of a general trade barrier but rather targeted measures aimed at protecting certain sectors (source-6).

Furthermore, the timeline of the 2025 trade war illustrates a significant shift in the trade dynamics between the U.S. and Canada. The trade war began when President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, which included a 25% tariff on most imports and a 10% tariff on energy products (source-1). This marked a dramatic escalation in trade tensions and was a departure from the previously established tariff-free environment for the majority of goods traded.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, with the majority being from established news outlets and academic references. However, some sources discussing the historical context of tariffs may carry a bias depending on their political leanings, particularly those that focus on the implications of Trump's policies (source-3).

Conclusion

The claim that Canada had tariffs on the U.S. before 2025 is False. While Canada did impose some tariffs on specific goods, the overall trade relationship was characterized by a framework that favored low or zero tariffs on the majority of goods traded. The significant tariffs that marked the beginning of the 2025 trade war were a new development, not a continuation of a pre-existing tariff regime.

Sources

1. Timeline of the 2025 United States trade war with Canada
2. 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico
3. Before Trump: The long US history of tariff wars with Canada and the world
4. What did Canada tariff before the trade war with the U.S.?
5. Canadian Tariffs on US Goods Before Trump: A Deep NAFTA History
6. Fact Check: Did Canada have tariffs before 2025
7. Just facts: Canadian Tariffs
8. Inaccurate list of Canadian tariffs circulates amid US trade war