Canada-US Trade War: A Timeline of Tariffs, Talks, and Retaliation
A timeline of the Canada-US trade war, from initial tariffs in 2025 to Canada's latest retaliatory duties on $20 billion of US goods.
Canada's retaliatory tariffs on a range of American goods took effect on September 8, 2026, marking the latest escalation in a trade war that has defined relations between the two neighbours since early 2025. The duties, ranging from 15% to 50%, apply to over 700 products, including steel, furniture, and electronics, and target up to $20 billion worth of imports.
The conflict began in February 2025 when US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canadian goods. After a brief pause, the US imposed 25% tariffs on most Canadian imports and 10% on energy products in March, prompting Canada to retaliate with its own duties on $30 billion of US goods.
The dispute soon expanded to specific sectors. The US imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, and later on automobiles. Canada responded with counter-tariffs on these items. Negotiations have been turbulent, with talks suspended and resumed multiple times over issues like Canada's digital services tax and an Ontario government advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan.
A significant escalation occurred in July 2026 when the US invoked a Depression-era law to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods, including wine, dairy, and hockey equipment. This followed the collapse of trade talks in August. The US also announced 50% tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, set to take effect in January 2027.
Canada's latest move is a direct response to these actions, implementing a broad set of retaliatory duties. The two countries remain locked in a dispute that has affected industries from automobiles to lumber, with no clear end in sight.