Tariff, surtax, trade agreement and CBSA changes that affect goods entering Canada, summarized by our customs brokerage team with a link to the official source.
Garden City Customs Services Inc.Updated 5 updates
U.S. tariffs
U.S. import bans on some Canadian goods take effect September 29
The United States added import bans on certain Canadian goods that were already subject to its 50% Section 338 tariffs. According to the Trade Commissioner Service, the bans cover motorcycles, alcoholic beverages, dairy ingredients and whey products, molasses and sugar processing products, and non-alcoholic beer.
What it means for importers
This affects Canadian businesses exporting these goods to the U.S. rather than imports into Canada. Exporters should confirm whether their products are covered before booking freight south.
Canada's new surtaxes on U.S. goods take effect September 8
Canada now charges a surtax of 15%, 25% or 50% on a list of goods originating in the United States, covering about $27.6 billion of U.S. imports. Rates match the U.S. tariffs on the same goods, and the list focuses on sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. The surtax is set out in the United States Surtax Order (2026) and administered by the CBSA.
What it means for importers
The surtax is calculated on the value for duty and applies to goods eligible to be marked as goods of the U.S., including goods that qualify for CUSMA and shipments under de minimis thresholds. Goods already in transit to Canada on September 8 are exempt when you can prove it, for example with a bill of lading. Check the tariff item of every U.S.-origin product against the list and add the surtax to your landed cost.
Surtax on some U.S. steel and aluminum goods rises from 25% to 50%
On the same day, Canada raised the surtax on certain U.S.-origin steel and aluminum goods to 50% of the value for duty. The higher rate applies to goods in new schedules added to the United States Surtax Order (Steel and Aluminum 2025); goods in the original schedules stay at 25%. The CBSA updated Customs Notice 25-11 with the details.
What it means for importers
Steel and aluminum goods that were in transit on or before September 8 keep the 25% rate. Where a steel derivative good falls under both surtax orders, only the 2026 surtax applies.
U.S. 50% Section 338 tariffs on Canadian goods take effect August 22
The United States began charging an additional 50% duty on a list of Canadian-origin products under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, after proclamations signed on July 20, 2026. Goods covered by U.S. Section 232 tariffs are excluded.
What it means for importers
This duty is paid on the U.S. side, so it matters to Canadian exporters and to anyone pricing a cross-border supply chain. USMCA (CUSMA) qualification does not exempt covered goods. Canada's September 8 surtaxes on U.S. goods were the response.
CUSMA joint review: no 16-year extension, and the agreement stays in force
At CUSMA's first joint review on July 1, 2026, the United States did not agree to extend the agreement for a new 16-year term. Canada's trade minister reaffirmed Canada's support for renewal. Under Article 34.7, the three countries now review the agreement every year; if they never agree to extend it, CUSMA ends on July 1, 2036.
What it means for importers
Nothing changed at the border. CUSMA's rules of origin, certification of origin and preferential tariff treatment work as before.
These updates are general information, not legal advice. Tariff and surtax measures change often; always check the official source, which is the authority, and confirm how a measure applies to your goods with a licensed customs broker before you ship.
Questions About a Tariff or Surtax Change?
Talk to a licensed customs broker about how current measures apply to the goods you import.
