Welcome to Canada Tariff News and Tracker, your essential update on the escalating trade tensions with the United States under President Trump.
The big story this week centers on the new Section 122 tariffs, a flat 10% surcharge on most U.S. imports that took effect February 24, 2026, after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's broader IEEPA tariffs, according to Ginger Control's detailed analysis. This 150-day measure, expiring July 24 unless Congress extends it, applies broadly but spares USMCA-qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico, as confirmed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines. That's a critical exemption for Canadian exporters meeting rules of origin—steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber already hit by Section 232 duties are also exempt from stacking with this surcharge.
For Canada, the impact is stark. Bloomberg Television reports Canadian exports to the U.S. have plunged, dropping Canada from America's top buyer to number two behind Mexico. February's jobs data showed the biggest shed in over four years, pushing unemployment to 6.7%, with former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz warning of 2% GDP losses across North America, hitting autos, steel, aluminum, copper, and forestry hardest. Steel executive Barry Zekelman revealed he's paying $250 to $275 per ton—up to $7 million monthly—to ship from his Windsor plant to U.S. customers, forcing him to ramp up U.S. production while calling for resolved tensions.
USMCA review looms this July, with Council on Foreign Relations experts noting Canada and Mexico are ramping up bilateral talks amid Trump's push for concessions. Prime Minister Carney is diversifying ties with China and Qatar, but business leaders like Goldy Hyder of the Canada Business Council stress Canada can't replace its massive U.S. trade reliance. Yale Budget Lab pegs the effective U.S. tariff rate at 10.5%, the highest since 1943, while Global Trade Alert calculates a trade-weighted average of 11.4%.
Importers, brace for change post-July—new Section 301 probes target forced labor in 60 economies, including Canada, per McMillan law firm insights. Stay vigilant on compliance to claim exemptions.
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