The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has warned that he could order that products from Canada be excluded from federal government contracts, as retaliation for the new set of Canadian tariffs against American goods, in effect since this Tuesday.
In a message disseminated on his social media, Trump has indicated: "I order the General Services Administration (GSA) to, in collaboration with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), take all necessary measures to remove Canadian-origin products from the GSA's multiple award programs, unless Canada restores full and fair reciprocity for American farmers and businesses."
The Republican leader has emphasized in the same post that these GSA programs "represent more than $50 billion (€43 billion) a year," and has defended his position by arguing that Canadian authorities prevent U.S. companies from "selling in their public procurement markets," while Canada does enjoy "broad access to the enormous U.S. public procurement market."
"From now on, no reciprocity, no access!" the president concluded, making it clear that he conditions Canada's participation in U.S. public tenders on equivalent treatment for American companies.
The tariff counteroffensive from Canada to the United States has been in effect since this Tuesday, September 8, with rates ranging from 15% to 50% on steel and aluminum products and on consumer goods such as dairy, fish, or seafood. These levies affect imports worth CAD 27.6 billion (about €17 billion) and are presented as a direct response to the tariffs previously set by Washington.