US slaps 50% tariffs on Canadian honey, hockey sticks and more
Washington's 50% tariffs on Canadian goods took effect, covering everything from honey to hockey sticks, with Ottawa promising dollar-for-dollar countermeasures.
A sweeping new round of American tariffs on Canadian imports took effect over the weekend, placing a 50% tax on hundreds of everyday products — from natural honey and makeup to Christmas decorations and hockey sticks.
The White House says the levies will apply to roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, a slice of the nearly $382 billion in products Canada shipped south last year. While that is a fraction of total exports, the 50% rate is steep, and the costs are likely to ripple through store shelves.
Tariffs are paid by importers — the businesses buying foreign goods — and those expenses are often passed along to shoppers. With the list spanning more than 550 items, consumers could see higher prices in several aisles, from home improvement to sporting goods.
The targeted products include tulip and lily bulbs, fresh cut flowers, vegetable seeds, animal products like horsehair and antlers, beer and cider, wallpaper and lighting fixtures, kitchenware, paints and plywood, ice skates and fishing rods, perfumes and cosmetics, luggage and gloves, toys and Christmas ornaments, digital cameras, smartphones and video game consoles, and even toilet tissue.
The tariffs were imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a Depression-era law that had never been used before. It allows the president to levy taxes of up to 50% on imports from countries deemed to discriminate against American businesses. The administration has cited Canadian practices on autos, alcohol and dairy.
Canada has already promised a response. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would roll out "dollar for dollar" countermeasures starting September 8, targeting U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that "everything is on the table," including cutting off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S. if the trade war escalates. He suggested Canada could also use oil and potash exports as leverage.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50% starting January 1, 2027. In a social media post, he accused Canada of "ripping off" the U.S. for years and wrote: "WE DON'T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!"
Carney pushed back, noting Canada is the largest buyer of American automobiles and questioning what the proposed tariffs would mean for workers in states like Ohio, Kentucky and Alabama.