💲Counter-Tariffs Begin Tomorrow: Start Your Engines
Author: The CANADA List Team
Published: Sept 7, 2026
Canada's newest counter-tariffs on U.S. goods take effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, September 8. The measures will apply to $27.6 billion in annual imports and match the value of Canadian goods hit by the latest American tariffs dollar for dollar.
The new surtaxes range from 15 to 50 per cent. According to the Government of Canada's official product list, they are concentrated in sectors including steel and aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics, and electronics. In steel and aluminum, some existing 25 per cent counter-tariffs will rise to 50 per cent to match U.S. rates. Existing measures on American automobiles will continue.
The response follows Washington's decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on $27.6 billion in Canadian goods effective August 22. Ottawa says the concessions demanded during negotiations were neither fair nor economically sound and would have undermined the interests of Canadian workers and businesses.
Canadian importers will pay the surtaxes at the border, and some of that cost may flow through to businesses and consumers where alternatives are difficult to source quickly. The government has established a remission process for exceptional circumstances, including cases where Canadian firms cannot reasonably obtain the goods domestically or from another supplier.
Our take
Good. Canada did not choose this fight, but refusing to respond would tell Washington that Canadian industries can be targeted without consequence. These counter-tariffs make clear that access to our market has value, and there is something satisfying about seeing Canada stand up for itself after months of threats and insults.
That said, tariffs are still taxes, and Canadian businesses and consumers may absorb some of the cost. They can also trigger another U.S. response, and another from Canada after that. So: start your engines, but keep your seatbelts fastened. We should cheer Canada's resolve while hoping these measures create leverage for a fair agreement, rather than the next turn in an escalating trade war. Whatever comes, though, Canada will handle it, as we always do.
Liked this blog?
We are stronger together!
The strength of the Buy Canadian movement is in our collective purchasing power. Please share this blog with someone else who you feel would appreciate the message.
A few other posts you may be interested in:
- 💸 Moneris Sale Puts Canadian Payment Sovereignty at Risk
- 🐶 Scott Bessent Calls Canada a "Little Yippy Dog"
- 🍺 Saskatchewan Adds a 50% Levy to U.S. Alcohol
- 🛻 GM Commits C$1B-Plus to Canada and Sierra Trucks to Oshawa
- 🚄 Canada Is Going to Make Its Own Trains Again
- 🍫 Ganong and Purdys Are Both Expanding in Canada