Government of Canada announces next steps in its response plan to unjustified U.S. tariffs

February 2, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada

Canada will not stand by as the United States imposes unjustified and unreasonable tariffs on Canadian goods. In response, we are moving forward with 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of imported U.S. products. We will protect Canadian interests and support our workers and industries.

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental

Affairs, unveiled the full list of items covered by tariffs on $30 billion in goods imported from the U.S., the first phase of Canada’s response to unjustified U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

It will be effective February 4, 2025, when the U.S. tariffs are applied. The list includes products such as beverages, cosmetics and paper products. 

As announced yesterday, the government also intends to impose tariffs on an additional list of imported U.S. products, worth $125 billion. This second list will be made available in the coming days, for a 21-day public comment period prior to implementation. It will include products such as passenger vehicles, trucks and buses, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, aerospace products, beef, pork, dairy products, and more.

The government is also taking steps to mitigate the impact of these countermeasures on Canadian workers and businesses. It is launching a remission process for Canadian businesses to request exceptional relief from the tariffs that are imposed as part of Canada’s response to the U.S. applying unjustified tariffs on Canada.  

All options remain on the table as the government considers additional measures, including non-tariff options, should the U.S. continue to apply unjustified tariffs on Canada.

The tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration are unjustified, and detrimental to both Americans and Canadians. Working with provincial, territorial and industry partners, our singular focus is to get them removed as quickly as possible. Until then, our response will be balanced and resolute.

Quotes

“Canada and the U.S. are more than just trading partners. We are highly integrated economies—and this has greatly benefitted both of our countries, for more than 150 years. We want to preserve this relationship, but in the face of the unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canadian goods, we are taking action to protect our economy, our workers and our businesses. We will always stand for Canada.”

- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc,
Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

Quick facts

• Canada is the top customer for U.S. goods and services exports and a critical supplier of goods and services integral to the U.S. economy, with Canada buying more U.S. goods than China, Japan, France and the United Kingdom combined.

• Millions of jobs on both sides of the border depend on this relationship, and every day over US$2.5 billion worth of goods and services crosses the border.

• Canada is the largest export market for 36 states and is among the top three for 46 states, with 43 states exporting over US$1 billion to Canada every year.

• On December 17, 2024, the Government of Canada announced Canada’s Border Plan, which aims to bolster border security, strengthen our immigration system, and keep Canadians safe. 

• The Plan is backed by an investment of $1.3 billion and built around five pillars: 1) Detecting and disrupting fentanyl trade; 2) Introducing significant new tools for law enforcement; 3) Enhancing operational coordination; 4) Increasing information sharing; and 5) Minimizing unnecessary border volumes.

• Less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl and illegal crossings into the United States come from Canada.