DOJ Antitrust Division Pauses Canada Cooperation as 50% Tariffs Hit $20 Billion in Goods
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
DOJ Antitrust Division Pauses Canada Cooperation as 50% Tariffs Hit $20 Billion in Goods
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 5
Summary
Wednesday emails obtained by the Wall Street Journal said the DOJ's antitrust division ordered staff to halt cooperation with Canadian authorities on cases and policy work, with section chiefs told Friday to map all areas of Canada coordination.
The Justice Department disputed that account, saying the alleged broad directive was never issued and that officials were only told to delay one scheduled meeting on a specific investigation while the antitrust team prepared.
The clash lands as Washington and Ottawa deepen a trade fight triggered by Trump's new 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods that took effect last month.
Canada said retaliatory tariffs will begin Sept. 8, with Prime Minister Mark Carney pledging to match the new U.S. duties dollar for dollar.
The antitrust dispute adds another strain to a relationship already frayed by tariffs on tens of billions in cross-border trade and other symbolic provocations, including Trump's order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America."