When we covered the Section 338 tariffs taking effect, Canada's retaliation was confirmed in principle — dollar-for-dollar, effective September 8 — but the actual product list hadn't been published. It has now. Canada's Department of Finance released the full list on August 25, and it's more detailed and more targeted than "matching" implied.
What's confirmed
Canada is imposing counter-tariffs on C$27.6 billion (roughly US$20 billion) of American goods across more than 700 products, at rates of 15%, 25%, or 50% — with each product's rate set to match the corresponding US rate on that same category. This isn't a flat retaliatory rate; it's a product-by-product mirror of what the US imposed.
- 50% rate: steel and aluminum products (Canada's existing counter-tariff on these doubles from 25% to match), furniture, and clothing/apparel.
- 25% rate: appliances, dairy products including cheese, fish and seafood, and certain steel/aluminum derivative products.
- 15% rate: electronics and tools.
Effective 12:01 a.m., September 8, 2026. Goods already in transit to Canada on that date are exempted from the new duties.
The detail worth knowing if you export to Canada
Canada's existing counter-tariffs on US automobiles remain in effect separately — this new list doesn't replace them, it adds to the broader picture. If autos are part of your exposure, you're already dealing with an existing measure on top of whatever applies here.
Canada is also cushioning its own economy
Alongside the tariff list, Canada announced a C$7.5 billion support package for domestic businesses and workers: C$1.5B through regional development agencies for small and medium-sized enterprises, a C$500M liquidity stream via the Business Development Bank of Canada, a C$2B "Canada Strong Diversification Fund," and C$3.5B in rapid-response measures including employment insurance flexibility and a new worker retraining program. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne framed this explicitly as an acknowledgment that retaliation "will raise costs and reduce choice for Canadians" too, not just for the US.
A separate escalation thread worth watching
Trump has reportedly threatened an additional 50% tariff specifically on Canadian autos, trucks, and auto parts, effective January 1, 2027 — separate from everything covered here. If that materializes, it would be a fourth distinct measure layered onto an already complicated bilateral picture. Nothing is confirmed on this yet; treat it as a threat, not a scheduled action.
What to actually check before September 8
- If you export any of the named US categories to Canada, confirm your specific product against the official published list — "steel" and "dairy" are broad category labels, and the actual list runs to hundreds of specific line items.
- Check whether your goods qualify for CUSMA-based US origin marking. Canada's countermeasures apply based on the CUSMA country-of-origin marking rules, not just where a product last shipped from.
- If you have goods already in transit to Canada, confirm they'll land before September 8 to fall under the transit exemption — this is a real, narrow window, not an extended grace period.
- If autos are part of your exposure, remember Canada's existing counter-tariffs on US vehicles are separate from this list and remain in effect on their own terms.
This reflects Canada's official Department of Finance announcement of August 25, 2026, cross-checked against multiple trade advisories — not legal or customs advice. Confirm your specific product's classification and rate against the official published list, or with a licensed customs broker, before making sourcing or pricing decisions.