Trump Orders New 50% Tariff On Many Canadian Goods

US President Donald Trump signed orders Monday to impose new 50-percent tariffs on many Canadian goods, claiming 'discriminatory treatment' by Ottawa against American alcohol, automobile and dairy products. The tariffs take effect in 30 days and cover various items including wine, hockey sticks and cement, said the White House. Trump, who saw many of his tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court this year, tapped an untested legal provision for the new duties -- Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer charged: 'Canada has taken US alcohol products off Canadian shelves, given better market access to dairy products from the European Union, and has put a cap on US vehicle exports to Canada from companies reshoring to the United States.' Ryan Majerus, a former US trade official, told AFP the law is 'subject to a lot of litigation risk' and has never been tested. 'This is clearly designed to get some leverage over Canada,' added Majerus, now a partner at King and Spalding. Scott Lincicome of the libertarian Cato Institute told AFP Trump has 'demonstrated a willingness to use and abuse any statute on the books.'