Diogenes
Nemo me impune lacessit
Below is a list of notable tariffs Canada has imposed on U.S. goods, focusing on examples that have been cited as long-standing or significant.
Note that tariff rates can vary based on specific product classifications under the Harmonized System (HS) and may be subject to trade agreements like the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA), which can reduce or eliminate tariffs for qualifying goods.
The rates below reflect Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs or higher rates applied outside preferential trade agreements:
Agricultural Products (Especially Dairy and Poultry)
- Milk: Up to 270%
- Canada’s dairy sector is heavily protected under its supply management system, which uses high tariffs to limit U.S. imports and stabilize domestic prices.
- Cheese: Up to 245%
- Similar to milk, cheese faces steep tariffs to protect Canadian producers.
- Butter: Up to 298%
- Another dairy product with significant tariffs, reflecting Canada’s policy of shielding its dairy industry.
- Chicken: Up to 238%
- Poultry is also part of supply management, with high tariffs to restrict U.S. imports.
- Eggs: Up to 163%
- Eggs fall under supply management, with tariffs designed to prioritize Canadian production.
- Yogurt: Tariffs apply, though specific rates are less commonly cited (often bundled with dairy at 200%+).
- Sausages: Up to 69.9%
- Processed meats face moderate but notable tariffs.
- Barley Seed: Up to 57-57.8%
- Tariffs on certain grains and seeds protect Canadian agriculture.
- Bovine Meat (Beef): Up to 26.5%
- While lower than dairy, tariffs on meat products still exist to balance trade.
- Copper: Up to 48%
- Industrial metals like copper have faced tariffs, though rates vary by product form.
- Aluminum: Up to 45%
- Similar to copper, aluminum tariffs protect Canadian industry, though often adjusted in trade disputes.
- Steel: Up to 25%
- Steel tariffs have been a point of contention, especially during past trade wars.
- Cars: Up to 45%
- While CUSMA allows duty-free auto trade for qualifying vehicles, non-qualifying U.S. cars can face significant tariffs.
- Televisions: Up to 45%
- Electronics like TVs may face tariffs if not covered by trade exemptions.
These tariffs are rooted in Canada’s Customs Tariff Schedule, which aligns with the Harmonized System and sets rates for goods from World Trade Organization (WTO) members (MFN rates) and non-preferential partners.
The high tariffs on dairy, poultry, and eggs stem from Canada’s supply management system, established in the 1970s to ensure stable farmer incomes and domestic supply, and have been a consistent feature of Canada-U.S. trade relations for decades. Sources like Global Affairs Canada data corroborate these figures, though exact rates can fluctuate based on specific HS codes, quotas, or retaliatory measures (e.g., Canada’s response to U.S. steel tariffs in 2018).
For example, the Bank of Canada and CBC News discussions highlight how these tariffs predate recent U.S. actions, like Trump’s 25% tariffs in 2025, and are part of a broader trade dynamic.
Canada’s tariffs on U.S. goods—sometimes exceeding 200%—contrast with the U.S.’s historically lower average tariff rates (around 2.4% before recent hikes).
Limitations
This list isn’t exhaustive, as Canada’s tariff schedule includes thousands of product codes, and rates can change due to trade negotiations, retaliatory actions, or exemptions (e.g., CUSMA).
For a complete historical list, you’d need to consult Canada’s Customs Tariff archives or WTO records, which track tariffs over time. The examples here focus on high-profile, longstanding tariffs.
*Exclamation point added to mock Brad.
@Grok