Μake us preferred on Google Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on Tuesday covering C$27.6 billion (about $19.94 billion) worth of American goods, mirroring dollar-for-dollar the new duties Washington had imposed, while also rolling out financial relief for Canadian businesses and workers hit by the worsening trade dispute.
The counter-measures take effect September 8 and will apply tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% across roughly 700 U.S. products, according to a government statement.
To cushion the blow for affected industries and workers, Canada unveiled a C$7.5 billion package combining new and expanded support, including help for small and medium-sized businesses, a program aimed at easing corporate cash flow, and assistance for workers whose jobs could be threatened by the tariffs.
The move follows President Donald Trump‘s decision to impose 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian imports starting Saturday, after negotiations between the two governments aimed at averting the tariffs broke down.
The exchange of tariffs marks a fresh low point in U.S.-Canada relations.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the matching tariffs and the multibillion-dollar support package are meant to shield workers, farmers, families, and businesses.
A government official said the new tariffs were structured to keep the impact on Canadian consumers and companies as limited as possible while still applying real pressure on the U.S. side. According to the official, the 50% tariffs target major sectors including steel, aluminum, furniture, and clothing; 25% tariffs apply to cheese, appliances, and some seafood; and 15% tariffs cover electronics and tools.
