OTTAWA, ONTARIO / RankWire.AI / – Canada is set to implement tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% on C$27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports starting September 8, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced. These tariffs will affect over 700 items and align precisely with U.S. duties on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The government designated the implementation date following the enforcement of new U.S. tariffs on August 22, ensuring each product listed will carry the same tariff rate as the U.S. measures applied to its Canadian counterpart.
The scope of Canadian countermeasures extends well beyond metals and automobiles. Included on the list are household appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, agricultural tools, dairy products, pulp, and paper. Several steel and aluminum items will also be subject to the highest tariffs. Prior to this announcement, Canada had already imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. goods. Existing Canadian duties on U.S. cars will stay in force alongside the new tariffs.
The 50% duty applies to selected steel, aluminum, some furniture, and apparel items. A 25% rate will be levied on specific appliances, dairy products, and metal derivatives. Other categories will face a 15% tariff, in line with the U.S. duty rates applied to similar Canadian exports. The Canadian government explained that the new list concentrates on sectors directly impacted by U.S. trade actions.
Expansion of tariff categories across vital sectors
Ottawa also introduced C$7.5 billion in additional and expanded aid targeted at workers and businesses impacted by the tariffs. This package includes C$1.5 billion allocated for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, while another C$500 million will support business liquidity through the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Pivot to Grow program. Additionally, C$2 billion has been assigned to the Canada Strong Diversification Fund. The government lowered the minimum revenue threshold for certain assistance programs to C$1 million.
A further C$3.5 billion will go toward supporting workers and employers through employment, training, and retention initiatives. These include temporary flexibilities in Employment Insurance and funding for workplace training programs. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the counter tariffs will match U.S. measures dollar for dollar and rate for rate. This federal aid package builds on support programs introduced during earlier U.S. tariff rounds, which reportedly provided nearly C$25 billion in assistance.
Effective date for new tariffs set for September 8
The tariffs will be applied to goods classified as U.S. origin under Canadian rules. Products already in transit at the time of the tariffs’ commencement will not be subject to the new surtaxes. The duties will start at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, with the Canada Border Services Agency overseeing their enforcement as products cross the border. Businesses still have the option to seek relief through Canada’s existing tariff remission process if they meet the relevant criteria.
The recent measures expand the list of products affected by the Canada-U.S. trade dispute, encompassing industrial inputs, consumer goods, and agricultural products. Importers will encounter varying rates depending on each item’s tariff classification. These tariffs, beginning September 8, will operate alongside the existing Canadian retaliatory duties on U.S. automobiles. Overall, the combined measures target C$27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports and more than 700 tariff items listed in the new schedule.