It may appear that Trump’s move to hit many Canadian products with new tariffs of 50% came out of the blue, but there are clear signs of what’s driving the tactic. The announcement comes as the US pushes for significant changes to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. …The Trump administration wants to wipe out as much of Canada’s leverage in those  talks as possible. Some of that leverage comes from eight Canadian provinces banning the import and distribution of US alcohol products. …But retaliation for that boycott is just one of three ostensible reasons US trade representative Jamieson Greer gave. …”Canada has given better market access to dairy products from the EU, and has put a cap on US vehicle exports from companies reshoring to the US,” Greer said. …The US has listed nearly 500 product categories impacted, some of which clearly relate directly to trade irritants. But dozens seem chosen at random.

• Related news by Kady O’Malley in iPolitics: PM Carney, opposition parties and premiers criticize Trump’s latest tariff threats