Trump's 50% tariff deadline arrives Wednesday; Canadian negotiators in final push
U.S. tariffs set to take effect just after midnight August 19, affecting goods from cement to hockey sticks. Talks continue but stakes remain high.
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Less than 24 hours remain until U.S. President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff deadline takes effect, with goods ranging from cement to hockey sticks facing the levies just after midnight on Wednesday.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette have been in Washington since last week, meeting Monday with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday he expects to speak with Trump before the deadline, adding in French that the federal government has a contingency plan that "will cover all eventualities" if tariffs are imposed.
The negotiations are "very intense and delicate," Carney said.
Canadian businesses have been preparing for potential impact. As HighOnCity reported, B.C. businesses can tap into a federal fund if the tariffs take effect. Two North Vancouver tech firms are among businesses that have already received federal tariff-response funding.
The tariffs would mark a significant escalation in trade tension and represent a major test for the new Carney government. If imposed, the levies would affect Canadian manufacturers, exporters and consumers across multiple sectors, though the exact scope of goods covered remains tied to ongoing negotiations.
Official sources have not disclosed the full text of Trump's executive order or the complete list of goods subject to the 50 per cent rate beyond the cement and hockey sticks examples provided.
