Canada’s federal government held a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday to present its answer to new 50 percent U.S. tariffs, after trade talks with Washington collapsed.
Negotiations between Canada and the United States have broken down, and President Donald Trump has announced new duties on Canadian goods. DR reported in a live blog that the Canadian government was expected to respond at a press conference at around 5 p.m. Danish time on August 25, 2026.
According to a media advisory from the Department of Finance Canada, the event was led by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, together with Ministers Mélanie Joly, Patty Hajdu and Evan Solomon. The advisory said the ministers would announce new measures to protect and support Canadian workers and businesses, and placed the event at the National Press Theatre on Wellington Street in Ottawa.
The U.S. tariffs
Reuters reported that the American duties took effect just after midnight on Saturday, August 22, 2026. They apply 50 percent tariffs to about 20 billion dollars worth of Canadian goods, roughly 5 percent of Canada’s exports to the United States, including wine, clothing, furniture, cement, fishing rods and hockey equipment.
A White House fact sheet from July 20, 2026 stated that Trump signed three proclamations imposing the additional 50 percent tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The measures were set to take effect 30 days after signing and apply regardless of origin status under the USMCA trade agreement.
Canada’s response
AP News reported that Canada struck back with retaliatory tariffs on about 20 billion dollars worth of American goods, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment. Per AP, Champagne said the Canadian duties take effect on September 8, 2026, at rates of 15, 25 and 50 percent.
ABC News reported that the Canadian measures cover hundreds of U.S. products, including some steel and aluminum goods, furniture and clothing. ABC put the total value of the targeted goods at 27.6 billion dollars and said the levies match the U.S. measures dollar for dollar and rate for rate.
Ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Prime Minister Mark Carney had already promised dollar-for-dollar retaliation, as reported by CNN on August 21, 2026. CNN listed steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp, paper and electronics among the sectors Canada intends to hit.
Why now
Reuters reported that a tentative deal was claimed on August 18 and 19, leading Trump to pause the tariffs for three days. CNBC reported that negotiators failed to reach a final agreement by the revised deadline, and the duties were switched on.
