Canada – United States Trade Resources
Important Updates / Timeline
The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce has released its Canada–United States Insights Report, offering guidance for businesses navigating today’s complex trade environment. Based on discussions from the April 11, 2025, Canada–United States Trade Forum, the report is accompanied by a series of corresponding videos that highlight expert insights shared at the event. To find the videos click here.
- July 20, 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump signs three executive orders threatening a new 50% tariff on Canadian goods, including products covered under CUSMA. Each order cites a separate Canadian measure: provincial and territorial boycotts of U.S. alcohol products, retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts, and quotas on U.S. dairy imports under Canada’s supply management system. The proposed tariff is scheduled to take effect in 29 days.
Executive Order Learn More List of Goods Affected - July 1, 2026: Canada enters a phase of mandatory annual joint reviews under CUSMA Article 34.7 after the United States declines a 16-year automatic extension. All current tariff exemptions, rules of origin, and trade benefits remain fully active for businesses during this review period.
Learn More - June 19, 2026: Canada implements a provisional 10% safeguard tariff on global imports of canned vegetables, explicitly exemplting shipments originating from the United States and Mexico.
Full List - June 8, 2026: The U.S. adjusts its metal tariff rules, including changes to tariffs on select machinery, HVAC equipment, steel and aluminum derivative products, and tariff treatment for CUSMA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico.
Learn More - April 6, 2026: The U.S. imposes tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on steel, aluminum and copper articles and related derivative products, applying the tariffs to the full value of the product, subject to certain exemptions.
Learn More - February 24, 2026: A temporary 10% U.S. tariff on global imports takes effect, excluding CUSMA-compliant goods and certain agricultural products.
Learn More - February 20, 2026: The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down certain IEEPA tariffs, while sector-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, copper, lumber, furniture, heavy vehicles and semiconductors remain in effect.
Learn More - December 26, 2025: Canada imposes 25% tariffs on select global steel-derivative products and reduces tariff-rate quota levels for certain imported steel products.
Full List - November 1, 2025: U.S. tariffs take effect on medium- and heavy-duty trucks, truck parts and buses, including a 25% tariff on certain trucks and truck parts and a 10% tariff on buses.
Learn More - October 14, 2025: The U.S. imposes a 10% tariff on softwood timber and lumber and a 25% tariff on certain upholstered wooden furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities, with Canadian products affected.
Learn More - September 1, 2025: Canada removes certain retaliatory tariffs on Phase 1 goods and miscellaneous consumer products, while tariffs remain in place on imports of U.S. steel, aluminum and autos.
Full List - September 5, 2025: Prime Minister Carney announces new federal measures to support sectors impacted by tariffs and trade uncertainty.
Initiatives include new financing tools, a $5B Strategic Response Fund, workforce supports, and a Buy Canadian Policy.
Learn More - August 13, 2025: Ontario launches the Protect Ontario Financing Program, the first phase of the $5B Protecting Ontario Account announced in the 2025 provincial Budget, providing up to $1B in loan-based liquidity support for Ontario businesses affected by higher Section 232 tariffs, including steel, aluminum, and auto, to protect workers and operations.
Learn More - May 3, 2025: Trump imposes 25 per cent tariffs on auto parts imported into the U.S., excluding those from Canada that are CUSMA-compliant.
- April 15, 2025: The Government of Canada has announced new measures to support Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, including a performance-based tariff remission for automakers; temporary 6-month relief on select U.S. imports used in manufacturing and public services; and the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility, now accepting applications
Learn More - April 2, 2025: The U.S. imposes new tariffs on dozens of countries, but Canada is spared. However, a 25% auto tariff takes effect at midnight, and steel and aluminum levies remain in place.
- March 21, 2025: The Government of Canada has announced measures to support workers and businesses affected by tariffs, including tax relief through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Learn More - March 13, 2025: Canada announces nearly $29.8B worth of new tariffs on U.S. goods: $12.6 billion will affect American steel products, $3 billion will affect aluminum and $14.2 billion will impact other items.
Full List - March 11, 2025: Ontario temporarily suspends the 25% electricity surcharge after talks with U.S. officials, while the U.S. reduces steel and aluminum tariffs from 50% to 25%.
- March 7, 2025: The U.S. announces new tariffs on Canadian dairy and lumber, prompting Canada to launch a $5 billion support program to help affected exporters.
- March 4, 2025: The U.S. imposes a 25% tariff on all Canadian exports, plus an additional 10% on energy products. Canada introduces 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. imports.
Full List
Click here to read the report
Government Programs and Supports
Federal Programs & Financial Assistance
Financing & Loans
- BDC Pivot to Grow Program: SMEs can now access loans up to $5M (previously $2M) to help offset tariff impacts.
- Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility:Expanded eligibility for large businesses to cover a broader range of tariff-related costs.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative: 1B over 3 years available through Regional Development Agencies, with contributions of up to $1M per business.
- Strategic Response Fund (SRF): New $5B fund to help businesses adapt to trade disruptions, develop new products, and secure new markets.
- Export Development Canada (EDC) Trade Impact Program: EDC is offering $5 billion over two years to support Canadian exporters in finding new markets and managing financial risks caused by tariffs, such as currency fluctuations and cash flow disruptions.
Learn More - Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing: An additional $1 billion in financing is available through FCC to help Canadian agriculture and food businesses affected by trade disruptions.
Workforce & Employment
- Employment Insurance (EI) Work-Sharing Program Adjustments: Temporary changes to the EI Work-Sharing Program allow businesses to extend agreements and improve access to benefits for employees working reduced hours due to tariff impacts.Details on Work-Sharing
- Workforce Support Strategy: Updated to include training and income support for up to 50,000 workers, workforce development funding, EI flexibilities, and a new digital job-seeker platform.
Sector-Specific Measures
- Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EVAS) Review: 60-day review launched; EVAS will not apply to the 2026 model year, reducing regulatory burden on automakers.
- Agriculture & Agri-food: Temporary increase of the Advance Payments Program interest-free limit to $500K for canola, plus enhanced funding through the AgriMarketing Program to diversify export markets.
- Biofuels: Amendments to the Clean Fuel Regulations and a new $370M biofuel production incentive to strengthen domestic producers.
Trade Diversification & Procurement
- Trade Diversification Strategy: Federal goal to increase Canadian exports to overseas markets by 50% by 2030, reducing reliance on the U.S.
- Buy Canadian Policy (launching Oct 2025): Will apply to federal procurement, grants, contributions, loans, and crown corporations. Includes local content requirements and a commitment to source from Canadian suppliers.
Tariff Relief
- Tariff Remission Process: The Government of Canada has established a process for businesses to request remission of tariffs on certain U.S. goods, effective March 4, 2025. Under specific circumstances, businesses may qualify for relief from tariff payments or refunds for tariffs already paid.
Learn More - Canada’s Tariff Support Measures: The Government of Canada has introduced more than $25 billion in measures to support businesses and workers affected by U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions. This includes $6 billion specifically to help businesses grow, diversify markets, strengthen supply chains and maintain Canadian industrial capacity.
Learn More
Provincial Support Programs
Protect Ontario Financing Program
Launched on August 13, this first phase of the $5 billion Protecting Ontario Account provides up to $1 billion in loan-based liquidity support for Ontario-based businesses impacted by higher Section 232 tariffs, including those in the steel, aluminum, and auto sectors. The program aims to help protect workers and maintain operations.
Tax Deferrals
On April 7, Premier Doug Ford announced $11 billion in tax relief and rebates to support Ontario businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs. The plan includes a six-month deferral of select provincial taxes, effective retroactively from April 1 to October 1, 2025.
Ontario Business Support & Funding Opportunities
The Ontario government offers various funding streams to help businesses remain competitive, including:
Regional Development Program Skills Development Fund Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund Invest Ontario Programs
Canada Business Benefits Finder
A federal tool that helps businesses identify available grants, tax credits, loans, wage subsidies, and other financial supports.
Find benefits
Advocacy
Ongoing Engagement on U.S. File
- March 7th: Roundtable with M.P. Francesco Sorbara, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Honourable John McKay, Co-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group
- April 11: Canada-U.S. Trade Forum
Through our national partners at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- March 5: The Manufacturing & Supply Chains Mission in Washington, D.C. engaged with top policymakers, trade experts, and industry leaders to strongly oppose U.S. tariffs, advocating directly for the interests of Canadian industry.
Impact on Vaughan
With 90% of York Region’s exports bound for the U.S., 85% of which come from manufacturing, these tariffs threaten the stability of Vaughan’s businesses, workers, and supply chains. The automotive sector drives $4 billion in local GDP, and higher costs will weaken its global competitiveness. Sectors like transportation equipment, plastics, rubber, and fabricated metal products, making up 60% of Vaughan’s U.S. exports, face significant disruption, putting jobs and investment at risk.