A fresh wave of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect early Tuesday, imposing 50 percent duties on 110 items like specific cheeses, motorboats, ATVs, and furniture. The Trump administration recently announced a mix of additions and removals to the tariff list, which now includes aluminum products, paper, wood products, iron or steel beams, electric lamps, and mattresses.
The White House stated that it would lift tariffs on 10 items such as salt, sugar, cement, switchboards, and toilet paper to alleviate the impact on U.S. commerce. In 2024, Canada exported around $328 million US worth of toilet paper to the U.S., making it a major supplier. Additionally, Canada is a significant salt provider to the U.S., with imports totaling approximately $159.2 million US in 2025.
According to experts, the removals and additions essentially balance each other out in economic terms. Wolfgang Alschner, a trade law expert at the University of Ottawa, mentioned that the added tariffs cover roughly $2.56 billion of 2025 trade, while the removed tariffs represented about $2.41 billion. The slight increase in tariff coverage is only a fraction of the total trade value between the two countries.
Among the impacted categories, switchgear assemblies and switchboards stand out with the U.S. importing around $750 million US worth from Canada in 2025, which have diverse applications. The ongoing trade tensions intensified after the U.S. and Canada failed to reach a trade agreement in August, leading to reciprocal tariffs and trade measures.
The latest tariffs, combined with the looming import ban on Canadian alcohol, motorcycles, and other goods, have raised concerns about potential job losses and business closures. Alschner noted that the new tariffs could hinder Canadian companies’ ability to adapt and pivot due to the specificity of the imposed duties.
Economist Andrew Dicapua suggested that the delayed implementation of import bans and the relatively muted response from the U.S. to Canada’s counter-tariffs may indicate progress towards a potential deal. President Trump’s recent comments hint at a possible trade agreement with Canada in the near future, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing trade dynamics.