U.S. President Donald Trump's 50-percent tariffs on selected Canadian goods, effective Aug. 22, further strained bilateral trade and prompted Prime Minister Mike Carney to reduce reliance on the U.S. market by seeking new partners, boosting domestic trade and fast-tracking major projects. The tariffs, covering about $20 billion or 5.5 percent of Canadian exports, affect items from hockey sticks to cement and follow failed negotiations.
