Trump imposes controversial tariffs on Canada using outdated law

In the summer of 2026, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian imports, citing discrimination against U.S. exports. This action, based on Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Act, led to immediate retaliation from Canada, which imposed its own tariffs on U.S. goods. Legal experts have raised concerns about the legitimacy of these tariffs, arguing that the law may be outdated and that the administration failed to assess the economic impact on U.S. businesses.