Trump levied 50% tariffs against Canada using the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
Posted by Behind the Bastards, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 92%
Behind the BastardsOct 3, 2026
Multiple tier-1 sources confirm Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods (about $20 billion in imports) by invoking Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Act. The post's point that these were not the tariffs being litigated is context and does not contradict the claim.
What was said
… Sorry. So let's talk tariffs. As Trump's trade war with Canada continues with no sign of any agreement in sight, Trump's tariffs are finally getting their day in court, but not the 50% tariffs that Trump levied against Canada using what can, at best, be described as the extremely dubious powers, quote unquote, of the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. Oh, no, the tariffs that have finally reached the US. Court of International Trade are the Section 301 tariffs that Trump levied back in July. Now, by the time you are listening to this, a couple of days in the future, it is going to be October. …
Behind the Bastards · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. AP reports Trump invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose a 50% tax on $20 billion of Canadian imports.[1][3]
Supports. Reuters reports Trump imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports and that he invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the first known use of the law in nearly a century.[2]
Supports. Reason describes the 50% tariffs on Canadian goods as resting on Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which Congress approved in 1930.[4]
Context. The sources date the action to July 20 2026 with effect in late August, and the post's own reference to the July Section 301 tariffs being litigated is a separate measure. The claim's core assertion holds regardless of these dates.[5][6]
Sources
6 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 2 tier 2, 2 not rated
- 1Trump's new tariffs on Canada raises legal questionsapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Food importer files new lawsuit to block Trump's Canada tariffsreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 3Untested in court, Trump's new tariffs on Canada raise ...pbs.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4Trump's 50% tariffs on Canadian goods illegally rely on a superseded statute, a lawsuit arguesreason.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5Trump imposes new 50% tariff on many imports from Canadarmb.reuters.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 6What to know about Trump's 50% tariffs on Canadian goods that just went into effect6abc.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post