Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods starting September 8, 2026, matching the new US measures dollar for dollar. The announcement came hours after US 50% tariffs on roughly US$20 billion of Canadian goods took effect on August 22.
What is confirmed
- The start date: September 8, 2026.
- The scale: matching the US action dollar for dollar — approximately US$20 billion in trade.
- The legal machinery: Canadian counter-tariffs are implemented as surtaxes via Order in Council under the Customs Tariff, administered by the CBSA and announced through customs notices.
What is reported but not yet official
Wire-service reporting on the announcement indicates the targeted categories are expected to include steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. Until the Order in Council and the CBSA customs notice are published, there is no item-level list — any specific product claim you see before then is speculation.
What Canadian importers of US goods can do now
- Pull your HS codes. Surtax lists are written at the tariff-item level. Your commercial invoices or customs broker can confirm the classification of the US-origin goods you buy.
- Review order timing. Canadian surtaxes generally apply based on when goods are accounted for — timing of shipments around September 8 may matter to your costs.
- Know the relief map. Canada’s remission framework under section 115 of the Customs Tariff has been used throughout the trade war to grant relief where inputs cannot be sourced domestically, with claims generally filed within two years of importation. The CBSA Duty Drawback and Duties Relief programs cover goods that are later exported. Our step-by-step guides to each are in progress.
Where to watch
The moment the official list is published, our counter-tariff checker will be updated with a searchable version, and the Canada–US Tariff Tracker carries the full state of play.
TariffCleared is an independent publisher. Nothing on this site is legal, customs, or financial advice. Confirm against the linked primary sources or consult a licensed professional.