New U.S. tariffs widen trade pressure on Canadian products

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 15, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC News

CANADA – A new round of 50 percent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods took effect Tuesday, adding more pressure to an already strained trade relationship between the two countries.

The latest measures cover 110 products, including certain cheeses, motorboats, ATVs, furniture, aluminum, paper and wood products, as well as iron and steel materials, lamps and mattresses.

At the same time, the Trump administration removed tariffs on 10 Canadian products, including salt, sugar, cement, switchboards and toilet paper. The changes were presented as a way to reduce costs for U.S. businesses and consumers.

Trade experts say the additions and removals are roughly equal in value. The newly tariffed products represent about $2.56 billion in Canadian exports, while the products exempted account for around $2.41 billion.

The latest measures come after Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on nearly 700 categories of U.S. goods earlier this month, following Washington’s decision to expand its own trade restrictions.

Economists warn that the growing list of targeted products could make it harder for Canadian companies to avoid the tariffs by shifting production, while disruptions could eventually affect jobs and smaller businesses.

Still, some analysts see room for negotiations, particularly after Trump suggested that a trade agreement with Canada could come “fairly soon.” For now, however, the latest tariffs signal that the Canada-U.S. trade fight remains far from settled.