Canada's planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect Sept. 8 on up to $20 billion worth of products from its biggest trading partner.
The two countries have been locked in a tariff war since shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. The rift affected steel, aluminum, automobiles, lumber and other industries, prompting Canadian retaliation and rounds of negotiations.
A drone view shows a sign Sept. 2 on Highway 401 directing motorists to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the Ambassador Bridge in Maidstone, Ontario, Canada.
Here is a timeline of key developments:
2025
Feb 1: Trump announces tariffs on Canadian goods to take effect Feb. 4. Canada responds by announcing a $112.4 billion retaliatory tariff package.
Feb. 3: The United States agrees to pause the tariffs on Canada for 30 days; Canada suspends its retaliation.
People are also reading…
Feb. 10: Trump signs orders imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries, including Canada, starting March 12.
March 4: U.S. tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods and 10% on Canadian energy products take effect. Canada retaliates with 25% tariffs on U.S. products, including orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliances, apparel and motorcycles.
March 6: Washington exempts imports compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement from the tariffs. Canada, under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, suspends a planned second wave of retaliation.
March 12: U.S. tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum imports take effect.
March 13: Canada responds with 25% tariffs on U.S. goods, including steel and aluminum products, computers, servers, display monitors and sporting equipment.
March 26: Trump orders a 25% tariff on automobiles imported from Canada starting April 3. For vehicles imported under the USMCA, tariffs would apply only to the value of content not produced in the U.S.
April 9: Canada announces 25% counter-tariffs on non-USMCA-compliant vehicles imported from the U.S. and on the non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of compliant vehicles.
May 6: Mark Carney makes his first visit to the White House since becoming Canada’s prime minister, seeking to reset relations.
June 3: The U.S. announces an increase in its tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%.
June 16: Carney and Trump meet on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
June 27: Trump abruptly ends trade talks with Canada over its digital services tax, which was due to begin collecting payments from large technology companies.
June 29: Canada rescinds the tax in a bid to restart negotiations with Washington.
July 31: Trump signs an order increasing tariffs on Canadian products that did not qualify for USMCA preferential treatment to 35% from 25%. The White House linked the measures to what it said was Canada's failure to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., a claim not supported by official data.
Aug. 22: Carney announces Canada will remove retaliatory tariffs on many U.S. goods while keeping counter-tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles.
Sept. 29: Trump imposes an additional 10% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, taking total U.S. levies on the product to more than 45%.
Oct. 7: Carney meets with Trump in the Oval Office for a second time.
Oct. 24: Trump suspends trade negotiations with Canada over an advertisement the Ontario government aired that used former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s criticisms of tariffs.
2026
June 2: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative proposes 10% or 12.5% tariffs on 60 economies for failing to curb trade in goods made with forced labor. Canada, which says it always followed strict rules to restrict products from countries that used forced labor, is subject to the 10% rate. The tariffs take effect July 24.
July 1: Trump declines to renew the continental free trade pact, subjecting it to annual reviews.
July 20: Trump signs three proclamations invoking the Depression-era Section 338 Tariff Act to impose additional 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods such as wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment. This leads to intensive engagements between the two sides as Canada seeks to avert the tariffs.
Aug. 22: The U.S. imposes 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods after the two sides fail to reach a trade deal; Carney suspends trade talks, recalls his negotiators and vows dollar-for-dollar retaliation.
Aug. 24: Trump announces 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and automotive parts to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Sept. 8: Canada imposes retaliatory duties of 15%, 25% and 50% across more than 700 products imported from the U.S., including steel, furniture, clothing and electronics. The Trump administration will ban the import of certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, motor vehicles and dairy products starting Sept. 29, according to the White House website.
