WASHINGTON — The latest U.S. tariffs on a small number of Canadian goods took effect Tuesday as Washington continued to pursue its trade war with Canada. The White House said last week it would impose 50 per cent tariffs on goods representing about 0.6 per cent of U.S. imports from Canada, including outboard motorboats and metal and paper products. American officials also said 50 per cent tariffs on goods representing about 0.5 per cent of U.S. imports from Canada, including cement, sugar, toilet paper and fishing rods, would be removed. It’s the latest stage of an evolving trade war that erupted after Canada walked away from formal trade negotiations last month. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the Americans made last-minute demands that would have undermined Canada’s sovereignty. While the trade war has escalated in recent weeks, Carney said at an investment summit in Toronto on Tuesday that if a “mutually beneficial deal” on trade with the White House emerges, Canada stands “ready to develop that and pursue it.” “It has to be one that there’s clear alignment of interests, and a sequencing that is consistent with implementation,” Carney told a Tuesday news conference. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on nearly $28 billion worth of Canadian goods in August. Ottawa replied with retaliatory tariffs on American products. Trump also has ordered bans on imports of Canadian-made liquor and a handful of dairy products that will take effect Sept. 29. After trade talks between Canada and the United States collapsed last month, Trump claimed that Canada delayed certifying Gulfstream’s latest jet models because it wanted to maintain full market access for its own aircraft sector. In a post from Trump’s Truth Social account on Sept. 7, he specifically called out Bombardier. “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren’t good enough! Over 50% of their revenue comes from the United States — They live off American Buyers, American Companies, American Airports, and American Service — All while Canada blocks our GREAT American Banks, and Companies, throughout the U.S.A. They even blocked Gulfstream Aerospace from doing business in Canada — Completely unjust and unfair!” he wrote. Speaking to reporters at the investment summit, CEO of Bombardier Eric Martel said the trade dispute with the U.S. isn’t getting in the way of the company’s expansion plans. “We, Bombardier, are creating tens of thousands of jobs in the United States,” he said. “We have a strong presence and we have plans also to invest.” Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of manufacturing company Linamar, also said the trade war isn’t having an impact on business. “We’ve actually been taking advantage of the fact that our customers are on-shoring product from Asia and Europe into North America,” she said at the summit. “They are happily awarding business to all of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. And in fact, if I look at the last 12 months, we’ve won record levels of new business for our Canadian plant.” Matthew Bromberg, president and CEO of the Montreal-based flight simulator company CAE, told reporters the U.S. remains its largest market. “We’re not seeing any slowdown in interest on either side,” he said. “The demand is strong. The partnerships run decades and there’s continued interest in what we have to provide.” --- The Canadian Press With files from Craig Lord in Toronto, Aaron Sousa in Edmonton and Kyle Duggan in Ottawa This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2026.
