Trump invokes 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to impose tariffs on Canada for first time

Published Aug 2, 12:30 PM UTC

Former President Donald Trump has invoked a 1930 tariff law, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, to impose tariffs on Canada, marking the first time a U.S. president has used this specific legal basis. The article, published by Fortune on August 2, 2026, reports that the administration's evidence supporting the tariffs is weak. The move represents a significant escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, utilizing a protectionist law from the Great Depression era that has historically been avoided by modern presidents. The decision is likely to face legal and diplomatic challenges, given the lack of strong justification and the unprecedented nature of the action against a key ally.