Canada has implemented a new round of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, with steel, aluminum and related metal products among the most heavily targeted sectors. The measures, which took effect September 8, apply tariffs ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent on approximately C$27.6 billion (US$20 billion) of U.S. goods.
The metals provisions represent a particularly significant escalation for manufacturers, fabricators, distributors and other businesses that rely on cross-border flows of steel and aluminum. More than 300 steel and aluminum products and derivatives are included in the new measures. U.S. steel and aluminum products that previously faced a 25 percent Canadian tariff are now subject to a 50 percent rate, while a range of steel and aluminum derivative products will face tariffs of 25 percent.
For North American metals markets, the new duties add another layer of cost and uncertainty to an already highly disrupted supply chain. Steel and aluminum move extensively between the United States and Canada, supporting industries ranging from automotive and construction to machinery, appliances, energy and general manufacturing
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The Canadian action follows the United States’ expansion of tariffs on Canadian products, including a 50 percent tariff on a broad range of Canadian goods. Ottawa’s countermeasures also extend beyond metals to products including agricultural goods, appliances, pulp and paper, flooring, electronics and other manufactured products.
The steel and aluminum provisions are particularly consequential because they affect both primary metal products and downstream products made from those materials. The tariff schedule includes products such as flat-rolled steel and aluminum bars, along with numerous derivative products.
The increased duties could put additional pressure on U.S. exporters seeking to maintain their Canadian market share and on Canadian companies that depend on American metal inputs. The measures also create the potential for price and sourcing disruptions as companies reassess supply agreements, inventories and cross-border logistics.
Industry participants will be watching closely for changes in Canadian demand, shifts in sourcing toward domestic or third-country suppliers, and any resulting changes in regional steel and aluminum pricing.
Canada’s new measures cover 629 classifications of U.S. goods and impose rates of 15 percent, 25 percent or 50 percent, depending on the product. The government has said the measures are intended as a response to U.S. trade actions and to encourage a return to a more stable trading relationship.
Published September 2026