CANADA NEWS RELEASE: Canada Announces Targeted Countermeasures and Substantive Support for Workers and Businesses in Response to U.S. Tariffs

August 25, 2026

Department of Finance Canada

In recent days, however, the U.S. proposed new terms that were not in Canada’s best interest, basically, asking too much of Canada, and offering too little in return. Canada therefore suspended negotiations rather than accepting a bad deal that would undermine Canadian workers, businesses, strategic sectors, and our national interest. Canada did not choose this trade conflict, but we need to respond to provide a level playing field to our businesses.

Today, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, the Honourable Evan Solomon, and the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced measures to protect and support Canadian workers and businesses during this period of uncertainty and volatility.

Following the U.S. decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods effective August 22, Minister Champagne confirmed today that Canada will match the new U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar, rate for rate, with additional Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods. This focused response will protect Canadian workers, farmers, fishers, families, and businesses, defend industries harmed by unjustified U.S. tariffs, and help Canadian producers compete with U.S. products in the Canadian market.

Effective September 8, Canada will impose counter-tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent on products drawn from those targeted by U.S. Section 338 and Section 232 tariffs, with the rate for each product matching the corresponding U.S. rate.

Canada’s counter tariffs will apply to products covering $27.6 billion in imports from the U.S. and will focus on sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, that are most impacted by U.S. tariffs.

In addition, to support Canadian workers and businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs, the government is also introducing a $7.5 billion package of new and enhanced measures that deliver fast, simple and agile supports to Canadian workers and businesses, building on the nearly $25 billion in supports the government has provided since the implementation of the U.S. unjustified tariffs.

This package includes:

• an additional $1.5 billion investment through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), to help small and medium-sized enterprises, including liquidity supports to manage the pressures related to tariffs.
• a new $500 million liquidity stream under the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Pivot to Grow program to help businesses manage immediate cash-flow pressures in addition to targeted programs for the forestry, steel and aluminum sectors.
• broadened access to the Business Development Bank of Canada’s tariff related programs by lowering the minimum revenue requirement for applicants to $1 million.
• an additional $2 billion investment through the new Canada Strong Diversification Fund, to support tariff-affected businesses with shovel-ready projects that support ongoing capital maintenance. This new initiative will work closely with RDA programming for project intake and triage.
• a new suite of $3.5 billion Rapid Response Supports for Workers and Employers to help Canadians affected by tariffs. This will help workers access income support when they need it through extended and additional EI temporary flexibilities; and support their transition into new opportunities through new investments in training delivered in the workplace and enhancements to JobBank.gc.ca. This will also help employers keep their workforce through a difficult period with the help of the new Worker Retention and Retraining Program (WRRP).
• new flexibilities to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility, administered by the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC).

The government will continue to assess programs and policies to support businesses who continue to be impacted by tariffs, including expanding the availability of existing measures to newly impacted sectors.

Quick facts

• The primary objective of the counter-tariffs is to protect Canadian workers, producers and manufacturers harmed by U.S. tariffs by putting them on a better competitive standing against U.S. products in the Canadian market.
• Goods subject to 50 per cent counter tariffs include steel and aluminum products that were previously only subject to a 25 per cent counter tariff, furniture, and clothing and apparel.
• Goods subject to 25 per cent tariffs include appliances, dairy products, such as cheese, fish and seafood, and certain steel and aluminum derivative products.
• Other existing counter-tariffs against the U.S., including autos, remain in place and Canada’s tariff remission framework also remains available to assess requests for exceptional relief.
• The Canada Strong Diversification Fund will be administered through the Strategic Response Fund, helping firms adapt and thrive in the face of trade disruptions.

Additional Resources

• List of products subject to new counter tariffs effective September 8, 2026
• Canada Strong
• Support for Canadian workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs

Contacts

John Fragos
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance and National Revenue
john.fragos@fin.gc.ca

Gabrielle Landry
Deputy Director, Media Relations
Office of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
gabrielle.landry@ised-isde.gc.ca

Jennifer Kozelj
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Job and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Jennifer.kozelj@labour-travail.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
mediare@fin.gc.ca
613-369-4000