U.S. President Donald Trump is signing an executive order today to hammer certain Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs in 30 days, senior White House officials say.
Speaking to reporters on background on condition they not be named, the officials say the measure is a response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.
The officials say the White House will publish a list of affected imports but these tariffs, unlike many of Trump’s other tariffs, will have no exemptions for goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade.
The officials say the new tariffs will not apply to energy, potash, fish, critical minerals or other goods already being slammed by Trump’s separate sector-specific tariffs.
The Trump administration is using Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to implement the new duties, even though it has never been used for that purpose.
These tariffs are also not connected to Trump’s recent threat to hit Canada with higher tariffs because of wildfire smoke.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.
By Kelly Geraldine Malone | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.