U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods expand as trade war intensifies
New 50% tariffs on 110 products took effect Tuesday, offsetting removals of duties on salt, sugar, and cement — a net trade value roughly equal to what was removed.
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A new round of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods took effect just after midnight Tuesday, adding 50 per cent duties to 110 products including specific cheeses, motorboats, all-terrain vehicles, furniture, aluminum, paper and wood products, iron or steel beams, electric lamps, and mattresses.
Simultaneously, the White House removed tariffs on 10 items: salt, sugar, cement, switchboards, and toilet paper. The removals represent roughly $2.41 billion in 2025 trade, while the new tariffs cover roughly $2.56 billion — nearly identical in dollar terms.
Wolfgang Alschner, Hyman Soloway chair in business and trade law at the University of Ottawa, said the removals and additions "in dollar terms are basically the same," effectively cancelling each other out. However, the categories removed carry strategic importance: salt and cement are essential inputs for winter road maintenance and construction that "are not something that's easily substituted away," according to Alschner.
Canada exported approximately $328 million US worth of toilet paper to the U.S. in 2024, making it the largest international provider. The U.S. imported roughly $159.2 million US worth of salt from Canada in 2025.
The biggest dollar value in added tariffs targets switchgear assemblies and switchboards at roughly $750 million US of 2025 imports — components used in cars and airplanes.
This marks the latest escalation in a trade dispute that began in August when the U.S. imposed 50 per cent tariffs on a wide swath of Canadian goods. Canada retaliated with tariffs on nearly 700 categories of U.S. goods, which took effect Sept. 8. On Sept. 15, Trump announced a pending import ban on Canadian booze, motorcycles, and other goods, set to take effect Sept. 29.
Experts say the growing scope of the trade war creates regional disruptions that could lead to job losses and closure of small businesses.
By the numbers
How much trade value did the new U.S. tariffs cover compared to the removed tariffs?
The new 50% tariffs on 110 products covered roughly $2.56 billion in trade, while the removed tariffs represented roughly $2.41 billion — nearly identical in dollar value.
What was Canada's toilet paper export value to the U.S. in 2024?
Canada exported approximately $328 million US worth of toilet paper to the U.S. in 2024, making it the largest international provider of toilet paper to the U.S.
Which product category faced the largest dollar value in new tariffs?
Switchgear assemblies and switchboards faced the largest dollar value in added tariffs at roughly $750 million US of 2025 imports; these components are used in cars and airplanes.
