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What are the US & Canada tariffs now?

8/5/2025

 
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With the August 1 U.S. tariff deadline behind us, what are all the tariffs affecting Canadian businesses now?

With the long list of US tariffs, exemptions, delays and increases announced since January, and the counter-tariffs and exemptions announced by Canada, it’s easy to be confused about what Canadian and US products are actually subject to tariffs, and at what rates.

Let’s start with the US tariffs on Canadian products, including the effect of CUSMA (the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement), the free trade agreement negotiated during Donald Trump’s first term as President.

US tariffs on Canadian CUSMA-compliant and non-CUSMA-compliant products:
  • 50% tariffs apply to steel products and derivatives and aluminum products from the original 2018 steel and aluminum tariff list. This is a change as of June 3 from the 25% tariff that applied only to non-CUSMA-compliant steel and aluminum products.(1)
  • 50% tariffs apply to semi-finished copper products (e.g., copper pipes, wires, rods, sheets and tubes) and intensive copper derivative products (e.g., pipe fittings, cables, connectors and electrical components). They do not include copper input materials (e.g., copper ores, concentrates, mattes, cathodes and anodes).(2)

US tariffs on Canadian CUSMA-compliant products:
  • 25% tariffs apply to the non-US content in Canadian CUSMA-compliant automobiles.(3)
  • Aside from this tariff, and those on steel, aluminum and copper products, no other CUSMA-compliant products are subject to US tariffs.
  • Note that the Bank of Canada estimates 95% of Canadian products are now CUSMA-compliant.(4)

US tariffs on Canadian non-CUSMA-compliant products:
  • 35% tariffs apply to all Canadian non-CUSMA-compliant products, other than energy products and potash (see below), and steel, aluminum and copper products.
  • 35% tariffs apply to Canadian non-CUSMA-compliant automobiles and non-CUSMA-compliant automobile parts.(5)
  • 10% tariffs apply to non-CUSMA-compliant energy products and resources, which include: crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water, and critical minerals. The Bank of Canada estimates 100% of Canadian energy exports are CUSMA-compliant.(4)
  • 10% tariffs apply to potash that is non-CUSMA-compliant. RBC estimates the bulk of Canadian potash exports are CUSMA-compliant.(6)
  • A new 40% tariff applies to non-CUSMA-compliant goods transshipped via another country to evade the 35% Canadian Tariff.(2)
  • The U.S. de minimis treatment for low-value shipments will be eliminated as of August 29. Goods valued at $800 or less will now be subject to all applicable duties.(2)

Now, what Canadian products are non-CUSMA-compliant, and therefore subject to the U.S.’s  tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant products?

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a definitive list. An internet search or AI query will come up dry. Whether a specific product is CUSMA-compliant depends on whether it meets the CUSMA Rules of Origin.(7)

As such, the same type of product made by different manufacturers may each have different CUSMA-compliant statuses depending on where they source their parts and materials. 

Therefore, we were not able to find a “list of non-CUSMA compliant” products, or conversely a list of CUSMA-compliant products.

However, recall that the Bank of Canada estimates 95% of Canadian products are CUSMA-compliant.


How about Canadian counter-tariffs on US products? What specific US products are subject to these tariffs?

Canada’s counter-tariffs have, so far, not changed since March, other than being delayed for some sectors starting in April. Canada imposed three sets of counter-tariffs:
  • On March 4, 25% counter-tariffs were imposed on $30 billion worth of US goods imported annually.
  • On March 13, 25% counter-tariffs were imposed on a list of steel products worth $12.6 billion and aluminum products worth $3 billion, as well as additional imported US goods worth $14.2 billion, for a total of $29.8 billion.
  • On April 9, 25% counter-tariffs were imposed on non-CUSMA compliant US-made vehicles, and on the non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUSMA-compliant US-made vehicles. Again, there are no definitive lists of vehicles that are CUSMA-compliant or non-CUSMA-compliant.
  • On April 15, the Canadian government announced a 6-month exemption (to October 15) of tariffs on goods imported from the U.S. that are used in Canadian manufacturing, processing and food and beverage packaging, and for those used to support public health, health care, public safety, and national security objectives.(8)
  • On April 15, the Canadian government also announced remission is available in respect of the tariffs on Phase 1 goods, the steel and aluminum retaliatory tariffs and the auto retaliatory tariffs.(8)

In terms of specific US products targeted by the March 4 and 13 tariffs, the government of Canada website has a webpage listing each set of products.

However, these two webpages are hundreds of pages long and include painstakingly detailed definitions and descriptions of all the different variations of each product.

So we’ve summarized them here for easy reference.

The following categories of US products are subject to Canada’s 25% counter-tariffs imposed on March 4:
  • Food Products (e.g., Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Oils, Sweeteners, Dairy, Meat)
  • Textiles and Apparel (e.g., Clothing, Carpets, Linen)
  • Personal Care and Cosmetics
  • Household Goods (e.g., Furniture, Appliances, Cleaning Supplies)
  • Industrial Materials (e.g., Wood, Plastics, Rubber)
  • Machinery and Tools
  • Other (e.g., Tobacco, Firearms, Art)

The following categories of US products are subject to Canada’s 25% counter-tariffs imposed on March 13:
  • Household Goods (e.g., Candles, Tableware, Household Items)
  • Metal Products (e.g., Gold, Iron and Steel Ingots, Aluminum Wire)
  • Tools (e.g., Hand Tools, Saw Blades)
  • Fixtures and Fittings (e.g., Locks, Pipe Fittings)
  • Electronics (e.g., Printers and Copiers, Computers)
  • Furniture and Decor (e.g., Furniture, Lighting)
  • Recreation and Leisure (e.g., Toys, Sports Equipment)
  • Cleaning Supplies (e.g., Brooms & Brushes)
  • Personal Care (e.g., Combs & Slides)
For the specific products subject to Canada’s March 4 and 13 counter-tariffs, click here for our simplified list. 

As we can see, Canada’s counter-tariffs on US products are broad. As such, many companies who resell products from the US will see their costs increase, as long as these Canadian counter-tariffs are in place, and unless they find substitutes in Canada or elsewhere at similar prices. 

Companies who buy parts or materials from the US to manufacture or process their products, or package food or beverages, will see their costs increase as of October 15.


​
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For more detailed legal explanations of the US tariffs and Canada’s response, see this JDSupra article by Toronto law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP.
​https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/back-and-forth-levies-in-the-north-4837119/


1. As of June 3, it is now clear that US tariffs on steel and aluminum products are all encompassing applying also to CUSMA-compliant products. The Stikeman Elliott LLP article indicates the U.S. government’s June 3 proclamation made clear CUSMA-compliant steel and aluminum products are no longer exempt from the 50% tariffs.

2. This article by the law firm Blakes speaks to the specifics of the U.S. tariffs on copper products, the elimination of the U.S. de minimis treatment for low-value shipments, and the introduction of the 40% tariff on non-CUSMA-compliant products that are transshipped via another country.
https://www.blakes.com/insights/us-canada-tariffs-timeline-of-key-dates-and-documents/


3. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business appears to confirm the 25% tariffs on the non-US content in Canadian CUSMA-compliant automobiles will continue.
https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/site/us-tariffs


4. The Bank of Canada’s July 30 Monetary Policy Report includes estimates of the percentage of Canadian products overall, and energy exports, that are CUSMA-compliant.
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/mpr-2025-07-30.pdf


5. There is no mention in the U.S. president’s executive order whether the 35% tariff on non-CUSMA compliant products will apply to automobiles. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/amendment-to-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-northern-border-9350/
However, we’ve had an AI check all websites for more information, and those websites referenced currently assume Canadian non-CUSMA-compliant automobiles and automobile parts will also be subject to the 35% tariff and make no mention of a different rate. For example, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business website makes this assumption:
https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/site/us-tariffs


6. An April 25, 2025 RBC article estimates the bulk of Canadian potash exports to the U.S. are CUSMA-compliant.
https://www.rbc.com/en/thought-leadership/economics/featured-insights/cusma-compliance-rush-will-it-shield-canada-from-u-s-tariffs/


7. The full CUSMA agreement can be found here:
https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement/agreement-between
It includes a Rules of Origin document, which can be found here: 
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/CUSMA/Text/04%20Rules%20of%20Origin.pdf

8. The government of Canada’s announcement about the 6 month relief from Canadian counter-tariffs for certain sections and the remissions available for auto, steel and aluminum companies can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/04/canada-announces-new-support-for-canadian-businesses-affected-by-us-tariffs.html


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