Ottawa to hit U.S. back with tariffs on steel, aluminum, smartphones and golf clubs

OTTAWA – The federal government is increasing tariffs on American steel and aluminum products from 25 to 50 per cent, as part of a long list of U.S. products in retaliation for the United States imposing new tariffs last week on Canada.

The government will also impose 50 per cent tariffs — beginning on Sept. 8 — on smartphones, golf clubs, video game consoles, fishing rods, and clothing and apparel, among others. 

It will levy a 25 per cent tariff on appliances, agricultural machinery, dairy products, seafood, and certain steel and aluminum derivatives products.

A 15 per cent tariff is being tacked on a small list of items including hand tools, air conditioners and forklifts.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the U.S. levies have “real consequences” for Canadian companies and consumers.

“Canada must respond and today we are — in a proportionate, targeted and strategic way,” he said.

Champagne was among a number of federal cabinet ministers who presented the government’s response at a news conference at an Ottawa roofing manufacturer on Tuesday.

Before the announcement, government officials briefed reporters on the plan and stressed Canada was not targeting any new products beyond ones already hit by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Officials could not provide any figures on how much revenue Canada is expecting to generate from these new tariffs, but said it wouldn’t be more than the $7.5 billion in aid Ottawa also announced on Tuesday.

The aid package is meant to help impacted Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war with the United States. Among the measures are new loan programs for businesses and more flexibility to apply for employment insurance.

Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said while she welcomed the aid package she is worried about businesses being able to repay the loans.

“We see that the intention of loans is helpful, but they can also be a monkey on the back when they come due,” Laing said in a statement.

“As this rolls out, we understand there will be improvements along the way, as we have seen from past iterations of government-led crisis management.”

Ottawa is matching the dollar amount of the U.S. tariffs, but the list does not include all of the same items targeted by President Donald Trump — like hockey sticks and Canadian alcohol.

Officials said Canada selected products from the Canadian industries most impacted by the U.S. tariffs, to protect their market share.

“Economic sovereignty means the capacity to produce, invest and grow in Canada,” Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said.

She said the government has already spoken with Canadian retailers about ensuring Canadian products on their shelves are clearly identified and said Canadians should buy domestic products.

“Building at home is not a Plan B, it is a Plan A,” she said.

The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment about the retaliatory duties.

Brooke Rollins, Trump’s agriculture secretary, told reporters at the White House that “with regards to Canada, the president has been very clear for the last year and a half that the way they treat our dairy farmers in America is just not … going to continue any longer.”

When asked about Canada’s retaliatory measures she said there’s no doubt it causes concern among ranchers and farmers because there’s a lot of “unknown out there.” But she added that Trump is a master negotiator and he always prioritizes farmers.

While the tariffs on aluminum are a direct response to the measures the U.S. took on Canada, the move is likely to resonate with Trump.

Bloomberg reported on Monday that while Trump was on a call endorsing a Republican candidate for governor in Oklahoma, Trump said the U.S. “desperately needs” aluminum, which he said they almost entirely get from Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2026. 

— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington