OTTAWA, ONTARIO / RankWire.AI / – Canada will implement tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% on C$27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports starting September 8, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The new tariffs apply to over 700 tariff classifications and mirror U.S. duties exactly. The date for enforcement was set following the impact of the new U.S. tariffs that took effect on August 22. Canada clarified that each targeted product will carry the same rate as the corresponding U.S. measure.
The scope of Canadian countermeasures extends well beyond metals and automobiles. Items on the list include household appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, agricultural tools, dairy products, pulp, and paper. Several steel and aluminum products will also face the maximum tariff rate. Prior to this announcement, Canada had already imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. goods. Existing Canadian duties on U.S. automobiles will continue to be enforced alongside the new tariffs.
The 50% tariff category encompasses specific steel and aluminum items, along with some furniture and clothing. A 25% rate will be applied to select appliances, dairy products, and metal-based products. Other products will be subject to a 15% tariff as detailed in the official schedule. Each of these rates aligns with the U.S. duty levied on similar Canadian exports. The Government of Canada emphasized that the new list targets sectors directly impacted by U.S. trade measures.
Expansion of Tariff List Encompasses Major Industries
Ottawa announced a new aid package totaling C$7.5 billion aimed at workers and businesses affected by the tariffs. Included in this package is C$1.5 billion dedicated 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. Furthermore, C$2 billion has been allocated to the Canada Strong Diversification Fund. The government also lowered the minimum revenue threshold for certain support programs to C$1 million.
An additional C$3.5 billion will be directed toward employment, training, and retention initiatives for workers and companies. These measures feature temporary flexibilities in Employment Insurance and funding for workplace skill development. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne noted that the retaliatory tariffs will match the U.S. measures dollar for dollar and rate for rate. This federal support package supplements programs introduced earlier during previous U.S. tariff rounds, which provided nearly C$25 billion in aid, according to Canadian officials.
The new duties take effect on September 8
The tariffs will be applied to goods classified as U.S. origin under Canadian country-of-origin rules. Items already in transit when the measures come into force will not be subject to the new tariffs. The duties will be effective starting at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, with the Canada Border Services Agency overseeing the collection as products enter Canada. Businesses are still able to apply for relief through the existing tariff remission process, provided they meet the necessary criteria.
These latest measures expand the range of products involved in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute, covering industrial inputs, consumer goods, and agricultural items. Importers will face varying rates depending on each item’s tariff classification. The September 8 initiative will run concurrently with the retained counter tariffs on U.S. automobiles. Overall, the measures encompass C$27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports and include over 700 tariff categories listed.