OTTAWA, ONTARIO / RankWire.AI / – Canada announced that starting September 8, tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% will be levied on C$27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. These measures encompass over 700 tariff items and are calibrated to match U.S. duties on a per-item basis. The implementation date was set by Carney following the enforcement of new U.S. tariffs on August 22. Canada confirmed that each product listed will be subject to the same rate as the corresponding U.S. measure.
The scope of Canadian countermeasures extends far beyond metals and automobiles. Included on the list are household appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, agricultural machinery, dairy products, pulp, and paper. Several steel and aluminum items will also face the highest tariff rate. Prior to announcing this latest package, Canada had already imposed retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. goods. Additionally, existing Canadian duties on U.S. automobiles will remain in effect alongside the new tariffs.
The 50% tariff category applies to specific steel and aluminum products, along with some furniture and clothing items. A 25% rate will be applied to certain appliances, dairy items, and metal derivatives, while other products will incur a 15% duty as outlined in the schedule. Each rate directly correlates with the U.S. duty applied to similar Canadian exports. The Canadian government emphasized that the new list emphasizes sectors most affected by U.S. trade measures.
Expanded tariff list affecting key sectors
Ottawa also unveiled C$7.5 billion in new and expanded support aimed at workers and businesses impacted by tariffs. This package includes C$1.5 billion allocated for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. An additional C$500 million will bolster business liquidity through the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Pivot to Grow program. The government has also designated C$2 billion to the Canada Strong Diversification Fund. Support programs have seen their minimum revenue threshold lowered to C$1 million.
Furthermore, C$3.5 billion will be directed toward assisting workers and employers via employment, training, and retention initiatives. These measures include temporary flexibilities in Employment Insurance and funding dedicated to workplace training. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the counter tariffs will mirror U.S. measures dollar for dollar and rate for rate. This federal package supplements support programs introduced earlier during previous U.S. tariff rounds. Canada claims that those earlier initiatives provided nearly C$25 billion in assistance.
Implementation of new tariffs scheduled for September 8
The tariffs will apply to goods classified as originating from the U.S. under Canadian country-of-origin rules. Goods already in transit when the measures take effect will not be subjected to the new surcharges. The duties will come into force at 12:01 a.m. on September 8. The Canada Border Services Agency will oversee the enforcement of tariffs as products cross into the country. Companies may still pursue relief through Canada’s existing tariff remission procedures if they meet the specified criteria.
These latest measures expand the scope of the Canada-U.S. trade dispute by including a broader range of products, spanning industrial inputs, consumer goods, and agricultural commodities. Importers will encounter varying duty rates depending on each item’s tariff classification. The September 8 package will operate concurrently with the retained Canadian counter tariffs on U.S. automobiles. Collectively, the measures cover C$27.6 billion of U.S. imports and more than 700 tariff items listed.