Fact Check: Did Trump Negotiate 200% Tariffs with Canada for Milk?
What We Know
President Donald Trump has made claims regarding Canadian tariffs on U.S. dairy products, stating that they reach as high as 250% or even 270%. These tariffs are indeed on the books, but they apply only when U.S. exports exceed predetermined tariff rate quotas (TRQs). Below these quotas, U.S. dairy products face zero tariffs (FactCheck.org). For instance, as of January 2025, the maximum Canadian import tariff for certain dairy products was reported to be 245.5% for cheese and curd, 298.5% for butter, and 241% for liquid milk, but these rates only apply over the quota limits (CNN).
In 2017, the U.S. exported $792 million in dairy products to Canada while importing only $149 million, resulting in a significant trade surplus for the U.S. in dairy (Brookings). The U.S. has a favorable quota arrangement that allows it to export more dairy products to Canada than it imports, meaning that most exports do not incur high tariffs (Brookings).
Analysis
Trump's assertions about the high tariffs have been characterized as misleading. While he is correct that Canada has high tariffs on dairy products, the context is crucial. The tariffs apply only when exports exceed specific quotas, which U.S. dairy exports typically do not reach. Therefore, the claim that U.S. dairy products face such high tariffs is technically accurate but misleading because it omits the critical detail regarding the quota system (FactCheck.org, CNN).
The reliability of the sources cited is generally high. The Brookings Institution is a well-respected think tank, and FactCheck.org is known for its non-partisan analysis of political claims. CNN, while sometimes criticized for bias, provides factual reporting and has fact-checked Trump's statements on this issue (Brookings, FactCheck.org, CNN).
However, it's essential to note that Trump's claims have been consistent and repeated, indicating a deliberate choice to emphasize the high tariff figures without providing the necessary context. This approach can mislead the public about the actual trade dynamics between the U.S. and Canada regarding dairy products (CNN, CBC).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump negotiated 200% tariffs with Canada for milk is Partially True. While it is accurate that Canada has tariffs that can exceed 200%, these tariffs are only applicable under specific conditions that do not affect the majority of U.S. dairy exports. The omission of this context makes the claim misleading, as it implies that all dairy exports face these high tariffs, which is not the case.
