USD/CAD remains subdued near 1.4250 despite concerns over impending US auto tariffs
- USD/CAD weakens as the US Dollar declines amid falling Treasury yields.
- Global trade tensions escalate after US President Donald Trump announces a 25% tariff on auto imports.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemns the US tariffs, calling them a “direct attack” on auto sector workers.
USD/CAD remains subdued for the fourth consecutive day, hovering around 1.4260 during Asian trading hours on Thursday. The pair is under pressure as the US Dollar (USD) weakens amid declining Treasury yields.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the USD against six major currencies, is retreating from recent gains, trading near 104.30. Meanwhile, yields on US Treasury bonds stand at 4.0% for the 2-year note and 4.35% for the 10-year note at the time of writing.
Investors are closely watching key US economic data set for release later in the day, including weekly Initial Jobless Claims and the final Q4 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Annualized report. Additionally, Friday’s release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—will provide further policy insights.
However, USD/CAD’s downside may be limited as the Canadian Dollar (CAD) could face headwinds following new US trade measures. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an order imposing a 25% tariff on auto imports, effective April 2, with collections beginning the next day. A one-month reprieve will apply to auto parts imports.
However, parts originating from Canada and Mexico that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be exempt until US Customs and Border Protection establishes a system to enforce tariffs on non-US parts, according to a White House fact sheet.
Reacting to the announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs a “direct attack” on auto sector workers and is set to return to Ottawa to coordinate the government’s response with his cabinet, as reported by CNN Business.
Canadian Dollar FAQs
The key factors driving the Canadian Dollar (CAD) are the level of interest rates set by the Bank of Canada (BoC), the price of Oil, Canada’s largest export, the health of its economy, inflation and the Trade Balance, which is the difference between the value of Canada’s exports versus its imports. Other factors include market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – with risk-on being CAD-positive. As its largest trading partner, the health of the US economy is also a key factor influencing the Canadian Dollar.
The Bank of Canada (BoC) has a significant influence on the Canadian Dollar by setting the level of interest rates that banks can lend to one another. This influences the level of interest rates for everyone. The main goal of the BoC is to maintain inflation at 1-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively higher interest rates tend to be positive for the CAD. The Bank of Canada can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former CAD-negative and the latter CAD-positive.
The price of Oil is a key factor impacting the value of the Canadian Dollar. Petroleum is Canada’s biggest export, so Oil price tends to have an immediate impact on the CAD value. Generally, if Oil price rises CAD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Oil falls. Higher Oil prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance, which is also supportive of the CAD.
While inflation had always traditionally been thought of as a negative factor for a currency since it lowers the value of money, the opposite has actually been the case in modern times with the relaxation of cross-border capital controls. Higher inflation tends to lead central banks to put up interest rates which attracts more capital inflows from global investors seeking a lucrative place to keep their money. This increases demand for the local currency, which in Canada’s case is the Canadian Dollar.
Macroeconomic data releases gauge the health of the economy and can have an impact on the Canadian Dollar. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the CAD. A strong economy is good for the Canadian Dollar. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the Bank of Canada to put up interest rates, leading to a stronger currency. If economic data is weak, however, the CAD is likely to fall.