OTTAWA, ONTARIO / RankWire.AI / – Canada announced plans 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 revealed. The new tariffs encompass over 700 items and are calibrated to match the U.S. duties rate for rate. Carney indicated that the implementation date was set after the U.S. imposed new tariffs on August 22. Canada explained that each chosen product will carry the same duty rate as the corresponding U.S. measure.
The scope of Canadian tariffs extends well beyond metals and automotive products. Included on the list are household appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, agricultural equipment, dairy products, pulp, and paper. Several steel and aluminum items will also be subject to the highest tariff rate. Prior to the announcement of this latest package, Canada had already imposed counter tariffs on certain U.S. goods. Canadian duties on U.S. automobiles will continue to apply alongside the new tariffs.
The 50% tariff rate applies to selected steel and aluminum products, as well as some furniture and clothing items. Canada will impose a 25% duty on specific appliances, dairy products, and metal derivatives. Other items listed will face a 15% tariff according to the published schedule. Each of these rates aligns with the U.S. duties applied to comparable Canadian exports. The Government of Canada stated that the new list concentrates on sectors directly impacted by U.S. trade measures.
Tariff list widens to include key industries
Ottawa also declared C$7.5 billion in new and expanded support for workers and businesses affected by the tariffs. The package includes C$1.5 billion allocated to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. An additional C$500 million will support business liquidity through the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Pivot to Grow program. The government also designated C$2 billion to the Canada Strong Diversification Fund. Officials lowered the minimum revenue threshold for certain support programs to C$1 million.
A further C$3.5 billion will be used to aid workers and employers through employment, training, and retention initiatives. These include temporary flexibilities in Employment Insurance and funding for workplace training. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the counter tariffs will match the U.S. measures dollar for dollar and rate for rate. The federal support package builds upon aid programs introduced during earlier U.S. tariff rounds. Canada claims those measures provided nearly C$25 billion in assistance.
New tariffs commence on September 8
The tariffs will be levied on goods classified as U.S. origin according to Canadian country-of-origin rules. Goods already in transit when the tariffs come into effect will not be subject to the new surtaxes. The duties will start at 12:01 a.m. on September 8. The Canada Border Services Agency will oversee the tariffs as products enter the country. Businesses can continue to seek relief through Canada’s existing tariff remission process if they meet the necessary criteria.
The latest measures expand the range of products involved in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute. They include new duties on industrial inputs, consumer goods, and agricultural products. Importers will face varying rates depending on each item’s tariff classification. These duties will operate alongside the counter tariffs Canada maintains on U.S. automobiles. Altogether, the measures cover C$27.6 billion in U.S. imports and over 700 tariff items listed.