PolitiFact is reporting that the United States and Canada have entered a full-blown trade war following stalled negotiations. It said the nations have been at odds for much of President Donald Trump’s second term, during which he imposed tariffs on Canadian automobiles, aluminum and steel. PolitiFact noted Trump threatened new tariffs in July over Canadian wildfires and announced a new round of 50% tariffs on hundreds of goods, intensifying negotiations. Both sides blamed each other for last-minute demands, with the Trump administration rejecting Canada’s requests for lower tariffs on heavy trucks and cultural content protections. U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer told CNBC on Aug. 24 that Canada "wanted more" despite generous U.S. offers. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Canada has been "ripping off" the U.S. for years, citing high tariffs on U.S. farmers and a $60 billion deficit.

The newly imposed tariffs affect approximately $20 billion of Canadian goods bound for the U.S., PolitiFact said. It reported about 500 products are impacted, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and flowers. While some targets are symbolic, others like plywood could significantly increase U.S. housing construction costs, according to a Boise State University political scientist. Existing U.S. tariffs on Canadian automobiles, aluminum and steel remain. Canada is preparing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, effective Sept. 8, which Prime Minister Mark Carney said would likely affect "steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, electronics." PolitiFact noted the tariffs could face legal challenges, as the Trump administration used Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, an authority some legal experts believe could be overturned.

Separately, PolitiFact is reporting on the increasing trend of women freezing their eggs, following U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s public announcement. It said the number of U.S. women freezing their eggs quadrupled from 2014 to 2021, though few have used them. PolitiFact noted that while the procedure has become a popular option for women balancing health, career and relationships with parenting goals, its costs and reliability remain significant hurdles.