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There is no single tariff on all trade between the United States and Canada. U.S. measures under Sections 338, 232 and 301 cover different goods, while Canada’s counter-surtaxes apply to specified U.S.-origin tariff items. The applicable rate depends on the product, its origin, the measure and its effective date—not simply on whether it crosses the border.
What changed in the U.S.-Canada tariff dispute
The latest escalation arrived in stages. On July 20, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) described three Section 338 actions covering motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and dairy, and a 50% tariff on nearly $20 billion in Canadian imports. The Canadian Trade Commissioner’s FAQ later described a wider range of Canadian goods facing Section 338 tariffs, including plastics, furniture, electronics, paper, industrial machinery, wood products, textiles and apparel, and sports equipment.
Canada’s counter-surtaxes took effect September 8 on listed U.S.-origin goods. On September 15, the Canadian FAQ said U.S. Section 338 changes took effect, including allowing Section 338 duties to stack with Section 232 duties where both apply. On September 29, certain U.S. import bans on Canadian goods took effect. These are dated descriptions of measures, not a guarantee that the rules have remained unchanged; Finance Canada warns that its product list may become outdated.
Which tariff measures apply to which goods?
The key distinction is that the U.S. measures apply to imports into the United States, while Canada’s surtaxes apply to covered imports into Canada. The measures also differ in product scope, exceptions and how they interact.
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| Measure | Trade direction and scope | Rate or treatment | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Section 338 | Canadian goods imported into the United States; the Canadian Trade Commissioner’s FAQ lists products across sectors including plastics, furniture, electronics, paper, machinery, wood, textiles and apparel, and sports equipment. | The FAQ describes 50% tariffs on covered goods. | The FAQ says CUSMA-compliant goods do not receive a Section 338 exemption. The U.S. announced changes effective September 15, including stacking with Section 232 where applicable; coverage depends on the applicable product rules. |
| U.S. Section 232 | Imports in specified sectors, including steel, aluminum and copper; autos and trucks; buses; softwood timber and lumber; selected furniture and cabinets; certain semiconductors; patented pharmaceuticals; and unmanned aircraft systems. | Rates vary by category. | The Canadian FAQ identifies specific CUSMA or U.S.-content exemptions for some categories. Check the rules for the particular product; there is no single Section 232 rate or blanket exemption. |
| U.S. Section 301 | Most goods, including goods from Canada, according to the Canadian Trade Commissioner’s FAQ. | The FAQ says a 10% tariff began July 24, 2026. | It replaced Section 122 tariffs, which expired the same day. Product-specific coverage and exceptions still matter. |
| Canadian counter-surtaxes | Goods originating in the United States that are listed in the Canadian order’s schedules. | 15% on Schedule 1 items, 25% on Schedule 2 items and 50% on Schedule 3 items. | The order took effect September 8, 2026. Its stated exceptions include certain Chapter 98 and 99 tariff items and goods already in transit to Canada when the order came into force, as well as other specified cases. |
| U.S. import bans | Certain Canadian goods imported into the United States. | A ban prevents covered goods from entering; it is not simply another percentage duty. | The bans took effect September 29, 2026. Verify the current official rules for the goods concerned. |
The USTR’s July 20 statement described Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as giving the President authority to impose duties of up to 50% to offset the burden or disadvantage from another country’s unequal treatment of U.S. commerce. That is the U.S. government’s stated legal rationale; the source record does not provide a neutral adjudication of the governments’ competing discrimination claims.
Does CUSMA protect goods from tariffs?
No—not across the board. The Canadian Trade Commissioner’s FAQ says CUSMA-compliant goods are not exempt from the U.S. Section 338 tariffs on Canada. By contrast, some Section 232 categories have particular CUSMA or U.S.-content exemptions. The relevant answer therefore depends on the measure and product category, not CUSMA status alone.
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For Canada’s surtax, the legal order ties coverage to listed tariff items and the applicable rules for determining U.S. origin. A product’s shipping route or a seller’s location by itself does not establish whether it qualifies as U.S.-origin for the order. Classification, origin rules and stated exceptions all matter.
Why two reports can quote different tariff rates
A quoted rate may refer to a different measure, product list, date or calculation rule. Some goods can be subject to more than one applicable U.S. measure after the September 15 changes. A headline figure such as 50% is not a general rate on all Canadian exports, and Canada’s 15%, 25% and 50% rates apply to different scheduled items—not every U.S. product sold in Canada.
Economic averages can also be misleading when separated from their date. In its July 2026 outlook, the Bank of Canada used goods-only assumptions of an average 5.0% U.S. tariff rate on Canada and 1.5% Canadian tariff rate on the United States, based on measures in place or officially agreed by July 10. Those assumptions predate the August and September escalation and are not October averages.
What the estimates say about trade and costs
Finance Canada says its counter-tariff product list covers $27.6 billion in U.S. imports, with products in areas including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. That is the Canadian government’s stated value for the covered imports, not an estimate of how much consumers will pay in higher prices.
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The Associated Press reported an estimate by Jacob Jensen of the American Action Forum that the September U.S. import ban covered $967 million in Canadian imports, based on 2025 trade data; alcoholic beverages accounted for 87% of that estimated value. AP described the ban’s likely macroeconomic effect as modest, partly because some covered goods already faced 50% tariffs that could make importing them uneconomical. Trade attorney and former U.S. official Patrick Childress told AP the ban “certainly won’t do anything to help the trade tensions between the United States and Canada.” These assessments concern the ban, not the total effect of every tariff on trade or household budgets.
AP reported annual two-way trade of $880 billion as context and, citing Canadian government figures, said nearly 72% of Canadian goods exports went to the United States in the prior year, down from almost 76% in 2024. Duties can raise landed costs when they apply, but how much of a cost reaches a buyer depends on the product and its supply chain. The figures above do not establish a pass-through rate for consumers.
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How to check the tariff on a particular shipment
For a real shipment or pricing decision, work from the specific item and the relevant importing country’s current rules. Finance Canada’s counter-tariff list points users to the Customs Tariff; the legal order itself links its surtaxes to listed tariff items and marking eligibility. The Canadian Trade Commissioner’s FAQ summarizes U.S. measures, but the applicable U.S. schedule and product rules should be checked for the shipment.
- Identify the product and tariff classification. Determine the tariff item used by the importing country; a broad description such as “machinery” or “food” may not be specific enough.
- Establish origin under the relevant rule. Check the measure’s origin test rather than assuming that the exporter’s location or shipping route decides the issue.
- Check the current measure and effective date. Confirm whether the product is covered by Section 338, Section 232, Section 301, Canada’s surtax schedule, or an import ban, and whether later changes apply.
- Review exemptions and interactions. Verify any CUSMA or U.S.-content provision, transit exception, special tariff item or stacking rule that could affect the goods.
- Confirm the result before acting. Use the current official government schedule and obtain qualified customs advice for a consequential shipment or pricing decision.
Because official product lists and rates can change, a rate quoted for a past date is not enough to determine the duty on a later shipment. The decision turns on the tariff item, origin, governing measure, date and any applicable exception.
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