Canadian Dollar Loses Ground For A Third Straight Day As Trade War Heats Up

By Joshua Gibson of FX Street

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 3:04 PM EDT

The Canadian Dollar roiled on Tuesday, falling roughly six-tenths of one percent against the Greenback at its lowest as markets weigh the latest evolution in US President Donald Trump’s self-styled trade war against Canada. The Canadian Dollar is still testing within familiar technical territory against the US Dollar, however, the Loonie is poised for further losses after shedding weight for three straight sessions against the USD, all on rising trade war fears.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is slated to deliver its latest rate call on Wednesday, however markets are getting thrown for a loop on whether the BoC will be able to deliver its expected quarter-point rate trim as trade war rhetoric from team Trump ramps up. Donald Trump took to his favorite social media app to declare that he’s instructed his Secretary of Commerce to double tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported from Canada to 50%, also to begin on Wednesday.

Daily digest market movers: Canadian Dollar withers again on new tariff threats

US President Donald Trump vowed via social media to impose an additional tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, bringing the total to 50% and declaring the tariff to go into effect on Wednesday.
Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford was quick to retaliate against the US with a flat export tax of 25% on all electricity sent to the US, which sent Donald Trump into a further tailspin on social media.
Ontario PM Ford followed up with an additional warning that Ontario could shut up energy exports to the US entirely, which would see 1.5M Americans without power.
White House officials followed up with an announcement that the “paperwork” on additional steel and aluminum tariffs targeted at Canada hasn’t been “signed” in an effort to cross the moat that President Trump continues to dig for the US.
President Trump reiterated his misunderstanding of Canadian cap-trade tariffs on US dairy products that are baked into the USMCA trade agreement, which Donald Trump himself spearheaded during his first term in the White House.
The BoC is slated to cut interest rates by another quarter of a point to 2.75% on Wednesday, but rising tariff concerns could throw a wrench in the works.

Canadian Dollar price forecast

The Canadian Dollar whipsawed against the Greenback on Tuesday, falling 0.9% top-to-bottom at its absolute lowest as markets churn on geopolitical headlines. The Loonie has somewhat recovered its footing, but still remains down for a third straight session against the US Dollar. USD/CAD has risen around 2% in three straight trading days as the Loonie backslides against the Greenback.

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