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. These measures encompass over 700 tariff items and are aligned to mirror U.S. duties on a one-to-one basis. Carney indicated the date of enforcement was chosen following the activation of new U.S. tariffs on August 22. The Canadian government clarified that each selected product will bear the same tariff rate as the corresponding U.S. measure.
The scope of Canada’s countermeasures extends beyond metals and vehicles. The list includes household appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, agricultural machinery, dairy products, pulp, and paper. Several steel and aluminum items will also be subject to the highest tariff rate. Prior to unveiling this latest package, Canada had already applied counter tariffs on some U.S. goods. Additionally, existing Canadian duties on U.S. automobiles will continue to be in effect alongside the new tariffs.
The 50% tariff category covers certain steel and aluminum products, along with specific furniture and apparel items. A 25% duty will be imposed on particular appliances, dairy items, and metal by-products. Other products will incur a 15% tariff, in accordance with the published schedule. Each rate directly corresponds to the U.S. duty applied to comparable Canadian exports. The Government of Canada emphasized that the new list concentrates on sectors directly impacted by U.S. trade measures.
Tariff Expansion Encompasses Major Industries
Ottawa also announced a new and expanded assistance package totaling C$7.5 billion for workers and businesses affected by these tariffs. The package includes C$1.5 billion allocated for 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 designated for the Canada Strong Diversification Fund. Officials have lowered the minimum revenue threshold for certain support programs to C$1 million.
Another C$3.5 billion will be directed toward supporting workers and employers through employment, training, and retention initiatives. These measures include temporary flexibilities within 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. The federal government’s support package supplements programs previously introduced during earlier U.S. tariff rounds. Canada reports that these earlier efforts provided nearly C$25 billion in assistance.
Implementation of New Tariffs Starts on September 8
The tariffs will be applicable to goods classified as U.S. origin under Canadian country-of-origin rules. Goods already in transit when the measures take effect will be exempt from the new surtaxes. The duties will commence at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, with the Canada Border Services Agency overseeing the collection as products arrive. Businesses retain the option to seek relief through Canada’s existing tariff remission process provided they meet the applicable requirements.
These latest measures expand the scope of the Canada-U.S. trade dispute, now including a broader range of products such as industrial inputs, consumer goods, and agricultural products. Importers will face varying rates depending on each item’s tariff classification. The September 8 package will operate concurrently with existing Canadian counter tariffs on U.S. automobiles. Collectively, the measures encompass C$27.6 billion of U.S. imports and include over 700 tariff items listed for duty.