US bans Canadian motorcycle, dairy, alcohol imports amid trade war

The Brief

• The federal government is enforcing a ban on Canadian motorcycle, dairy and alcohol imports that begins on Sept. 29.

• Canada imposed its own counter-tariffs affecting $20 billion of United States goods.

• In August, President Donald Trump enacted tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S.

The United States is prohibiting Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products from import as a trade war escalates between the U.S. and Canada.

Reuters reported that the import bans will be implemented on Sept. 29 and were published on the White House’s website after Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect on Tuesday.

Before the latest Canadian import bans, President Trump ​ordered the General Services Administration, a federal government entity responsible ​for providing services for the federal government, to coordinate ⁠with the U.S. Trade Representative and “remove Canadian-origin products from GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules unless Canada restores full and fair reciprocity for American Farmers and Companies.”

U.S. ban on Canadian products

Dig deeper

The United States ban on Canadian goods appears to cover most alcohol products, like beer and many types of wine; whiskey, bourbon, rum, vodka, vermouth, tequila, mezcal, and brandy. 

The dairy ban covers whey protein, invert molasses, cane molasses and ​non-alcoholic beer, per notices on the White House’s website.

RELATED: Trump’s 50% tariffs implemented on Canadian goods after trade negotiations suspended

Separately, various cheese products were added to a list of goods that could receive a 50% tariff but not ⁠banned. Some paper, aluminum, wood, furniture, lighting and other products were also added to the list.

Citing a U.S. official, Reuters reported that President Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on Canadian autos from 25% to 50% on Jan. 1 remained in effect.

The other side

Ottawa responded to the United States tariffs targeting Canada by launching counter-tariffs involving some $20 billion of U.S. goods, with ​taxes between 15% and 50% on goods from steel and furniture to clothing and electronics, and are expected to impact sectors in some states like Michigan and Ohio, before the November midterm elections in the U.S.

RELATED:Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over China trade deal: What we know

Trump’s tariffs, which took effect in August, affected sectors like wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment, covering $20 billion of Canadian exports to the U.S.

The Source

Information for this story was provided by Reuters and previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.