President Donald Trump signed three executive orders for tariffs Saturday, according to White House officials who briefed reporters. The orders also include retaliation clauses that would ramp up tariffs if the countries respond in kind. Trump cut the levy on imports of Canadian energy to 10%, the official said.

Mr Trump’s announcement of the new duties ought to erase any doubts about his resolve to take a hard line on trade, heedless of warnings from businesses, diplomats and economists about the potential fallout.