Tariffs play a key role in international trade relations, directly influencing the industries and economies of the countries involved. The following timeline maps out the key events related to tariff measures introduced by Canada and the United States. From the initial tariff announcement to subsequent retaliatory measures, follow the evolution of decisions that are shaping trade.
- February 1: President Trump announces tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.
- February 1: Canada announces two series of retaliatory measures targeting specific U.S. exports.
- February 3: U.S. announces suspension of tariffs on Canada for 30 days.
- February 10: President Trump announces he will impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum starting March 12.
- February 25: President Trump calls for investigation into whether copper imports are a threat to national security.
- March 1: President Trump calls for investigation into whether lumber and timber imports are a threat to national security.
- March 4: End of 30-day tariff pause. Trump administration imposes 10% tariffs on oil and gas imports and 25% on all other imports from Canada.
- March 4: Canada retaliates with 25% tariffs on CA$30 billion in goods imported from the U.S.
- March 6: U.S. exempts imports from Canada that meet the CUSMA rules of origin.
- March 12: U.S. tariffs of 25% on imports of steel, aluminum and certain derivative products announced on February 10 take effect.
- March 13: Canada retaliates with 25% tariffs on CA$29.8 billion in goods imported from the U.S.
- March 26: President Trump announces that from April 3, 25% tariffs will be imposed on all imports of vehicles and automotive parts.
-
April 2: Donald Trump confirms that 25% tariffs will be imposed on imported vehicles and auto parts from around the world as of April 3.
Products considered compliant under the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) remain unaffected by the tariff changes, which will take effect on April 3. Non-USMCA goods continue to be subject to a 25% tariff. Non-USMCA energy and potash are still subject to 10 % tariffs.
The aluminum and steel industries continue to be hit by the Trump administration's tariff policy, with 25% tariffs targeting all countries since March 12.
-
April 3: 25% tariffs on U.S.-imported vehicles and auto parts take effect.
-
April 3: The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, announced : 25% tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant fully assembled vehicles imported into Canada from the United States; 25% tariffs on non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUSMA compliant fully assembled vehicles imported into Canada from the United States.
-
April 9: Canadian countermeasures come into effect: a 25% tariff on vehicles that do not comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUMA), as well as on non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUMA-compliant vehicles from the United States.
-
April 9: Canada imposes tariffs on U.S.-made vehicle imports that aren't compliant with CUSMA and on "non-Canadian content" in compliant vehicles. Auto parts are exempt.
-
April 15: Canada further exempts tariffs on U.S.-made vehicle imports for companies that continue to make vehicles in Canada.
-
April 16: The Government of Canada adopted the United States Surtax Remission Order (2025) (SOR/2025-122), granting partial or full relief from surtaxes imposed on certain U.S. imports under specific conditions. This order aims to mitigate the negative impact of Canadian surtaxes on essential sectors.
-
July 7: The President of the United States extended until August 1 the suspension of additional tariffs imposed on Canada under the April 2 presidential order. This decision, formalized through the “Extending the Modification of the Reciprocal Tariff Rates” proclamation, maintains a uniform 10% tariff on certain Canadian imports in place of the originally planned surtaxes.
-
August 1: President Trump announced that the United States will increase tariffs to 35% on Canadian exports that are not covered under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
-
August 22: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that, starting September 1, Canada will eliminate retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods covered by the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Canadian retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles will remain in effect pending the outcome of ongoing negotiated settlement efforts.
-
October 14: The U.S. administration is imposing the following tariffs:
- 10% global tariff on imports of softwood timber and lumber;
- 25% global tariff on certain upholstered furniture, which will increase to 30% on January 1, 2026; and,
- 25% global tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities, which will increase to 50% on January 1, 2026.
