March 23, 2018 2:03 pm

Canada’s exclusion from steel, aluminum tariffs could expire May 1

While Canada and Mexico originally received an indefinite exemption from the tariffs, a new presidential order adds numerous countries to the exemption list, along with a May 1 expiry date for all exemptions.

Sean Kilpatrick/CP
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The United States has just applied some deadline pressure, amid its hurry to get a new NAFTA agreement over the next few weeks.

READ MORE: These provinces will be most (and least) hurt if NAFTA is terminated: report

The threat of steel and aluminum tariffs is back on.

While Canada and Mexico originally received an indefinite exemption from the tariffs, a new presidential order adds numerous countries to the exemption list, along with a May 1 expiry date for all exemptions.

WATCH: Tariff exemptions not a ‘magical favour’ from U.S.: Trudeau


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After that, tariffs could go into effect for all countries, including Canada and Mexico.

That also happens to be around the deadline date for a new NAFTA in 2018: Beyond May, any agreement would likely not have enough time to pass a ratification vote before there’s a new Mexican president and new U.S. Congress in 2019.

READ MORE: Donald Trump claims, again, U.S. has trade deficit with Canada — after admitting he made it up

The White House is linking the issues: Donald Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro told CNN this week that unless the U.S. gets a better deal on NAFTA, something will happen with tariffs.

Amid concerns that cheap Chinese steel will enter the U.S. from exempted countries, Navarro says those countries must agree to quotas on exports into the U.S.

© 2018 The Canadian Press

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