The temporary suspension moves the effective date to August 22 while Canada and the U.S. work toward finalizing an agreement.
The United States has temporarily suspended the 50% tariffs on Canadian goods that were scheduled to take effect on August 19, pushing their implementation back by three days as Canada and the U.S. continue trade negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on August 18 changing the effective date of the new tariffs from 12:01 a.m. ET on August 19 to 12:01 a.m. ET on August 22, 2026.
The 50% tariffs were announced in July under Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930. If implemented, they would have affected approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian imports into the United States.
Three Section 338 proclamations were issued in response to what the U.S. administration describes as discriminatory Canadian measures affecting the following U.S. products:
However, the resulting 50% tariffs apply to a broader range of Canadian imports. According to the White House, covered products range from wine to hockey sticks to cement.
Exclusions include energy, potash, products already subject to Section 232 tariffs, and certain other products, including fish and critical minerals.
The three-day suspension gives Canada and the U.S. additional time to continue negotiations before the new tariffs are due to take effect.
According to the White House, Canada has expressed a commitment to address the measures at the centre of the three Section 338 proclamations.
Trump has said the two countries have reached a deal that is subject to final documentation, while Prime Minister Mark Carney said substantial progress has been made, but important work remains.
Cole International provides trade consulting and customs brokerage services to help Canadian businesses navigate evolving tariff requirements and cross-border trade regulations.
Reach out to one of our trade professionals to understand how the latest U.S. tariff measures could affect your business.