Trump doubles metals tariffs, Carney tight lipped on Canada’s response. Live updates here.

Donald Trump doubles tariffs on metals, Carney silent on Canada's response. Live updates on this news:

US President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. The decision took effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Trump said in his announcement that the new tariffs are to better deal with countries that are dumping cheap, surplus steel and aluminum into the US market and undermining the domestic market.

The Canadian government has called the tariffs "illegal and unreasonable." About a quarter of the steel used in the US is imported, and Canada is the largest supplier.

Breaking news:

3:45 p.m.: Canadian Labour Congress President Bian Brisk says the government should "respond with strength" and impose additional tariffs to block imports of steel and aluminum from the US. He called for immediate reforms to unemployment insurance for laid-off workers and called Trump unreasonable.

3:00 p.m.: Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly said Canada’s response would be announced soon and that they were exploring options to maximize pressure on the United States and minimize harm to Canadians. She also announced that the government would invest in military and infrastructure projects to create more jobs in the steel and aluminum sectors.

2:30 p.m.: Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada was prepared to respond to the United States and would retaliate if negotiations to lift the tariffs were unsuccessful.

2:05 p.m.: Interim Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, Don Davis, announced that his party would vote against the text of the coronation speech, calling Trump’s tariffs “a reckless move.” He called for the mandatory use of Canadian steel in the country’s infrastructure projects.

12:54 p.m.: The Conservative Party has called for an urgent debate on tariffs, criticizing the Liberal government for failing to exempt Canada from Trump’s tariffs.

12:00 p.m.: Canada’s largest labor union, Unifor, has called for a halt to exports of strategic metals to the United States and a 50 percent retaliatory tariff. The union’s president says this is about economic sovereignty and Canada must respond forcefully and urgently.

11:30 a.m.: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has directly asked Mark Carney to raise Canada’s retaliatory tariffs to 50 percent. He says the tariffs will hurt steel jobs in the United States and Canada should be prepared to cut off steel imports from the United States.

11:00 a.m.: Bank of Canada Governor Tiff McCallum says tariffs are the biggest economic challenge but the Canadian economy has been resilient so far. However, the unemployment rate rose to 6.9 percent in April and the continued imposition of the tariffs could have a further negative impact.

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