Ottawa: Canada has formally lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States over President Donald Trump's recent tariff hikes, the WTO confirmed on Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening, Canadian Ambassador to the WTO Nadia Theodore announced on LinkedIn that the U.S. decision "leaves us with no choice." She confirmed that Canada had requested WTO consultations regarding "unjustified tariffs on Canada."

A WTO official told AFP that Canada initiated dispute proceedings against the U.S. shortly after China filed a similar complaint over new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump’s Tariff War Escalates
After returning to office on January 20, President Trump announced – then paused – a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking. However, on Tuesday, he moved forward with the tariffs, arguing that progress on these issues had stalled.

Canada swiftly retaliated with its own tariffs, prompting Trump to threaten additional economic penalties on Canadian goods.

Meanwhile, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that Trump might still seek a negotiated settlement with Canada and Mexico.

Canadian PM Slams U.S. Trade Policy
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced Trump’s "dumb" trade war, accusing him of attempting to cripple Canada's economy for potential U.S. economic dominance.

As tensions rise, Canada's move at the WTO signals a formal challenge to U.S. trade policies, further complicating relations between the two long-standing allies.