Stocks closed lower after a volatile day of trading, with automakers and banks among big losers, after President Trump hit Mexico, Canada and China with tariffs, prompting pushback from all three countries.

Beijing, Mexico City and Ottawa reply in kind to Washington, Minnesota’s agricultural exports will likely become more expensive and thus less competitive on the world market," John Rash writes. (Glen

China and Canada are fighting back as new U.S. tariffs take effect against those countries and Mexico. Beijing swiftly announced 15% retaliatory tariffs on some American goods. Canada says Ottawa will immediately respond with tariffs on $30 billion of U.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico — a 25 per cent across-the-board levy, with a lower 10 per cent charge on Canadian energy — triggering a continental trade war.

The US President is also open to exempting other products from the tariffs, which took effect on March 4. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Amid concerns over a trade war, US President Trump has suspended 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico imposed earlier this week.

The federal government has put together a $6.5-billion aid package and is making temporary changes to the employment insurance program to support Canadian businesses and workers through the trade war with the United States.