Canada’s new counter-tariffs are now in force
Canada now applies additional tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% to selected US-origin goods. CBSA has confirmed how these apply to low-value parcels, declaration codes and goods already in transit.
- Who this affects
- UK businesses supplying selected US-origin goods into Canada.
- Seller action
- Check before sending affected goods
Confirm origin and the exact Canadian tariff item, then check the official product list and live rate before shipping.
- Effective dates / current position
- In force from 8 September 2026 at 12:01 a.m.
- Last reviewed
- 9 Sept 2026 — an editorial source check, separate from automatic timing.
- Official source
- Open the primary source ↗
Updates to this article
Added CBSA’s operational guidance on low-value shipments, surtax accounting codes and evidence for goods already in transit.
What is changing?
From 12:01 a.m. on 8 September 2026, Canada applies additional tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% on selected products originating in the United States. The rate for each listed product matches the corresponding US rate applied under the measures to which Canada is responding.
The measures cover C$27.6 billion of imports from the United States. They are targeted rather than a blanket tariff on every US product.
Which goods are affected?
The official list is set out at Canadian tariff-item level. It includes selected products across sectors such as steel and aluminium, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, electronics, furniture, clothing and apparel.
A broad description is not enough to establish the rate. Businesses must check the exact tariff item in Canada’s Customs Tariff against the official counter-tariff list.
Origin—not dispatch country—is decisive
The Canadian notice says the measures apply only to goods originating in the United States under the applicable Canadian marking-origin rules.
A UK retailer is therefore not affected simply because it sends a parcel from the UK. It may be affected when the parcel contains covered US-origin stock. Conversely, dispatching a US-origin product from the UK does not change its customs origin.
Updated 9 September: CBSA clearance instructions
CBSA Customs Notice 26-23, published on 7 September, confirms that qualifying low-value postal and courier shipments can still attract the surtax, including below de minimis thresholds. The rules also apply through the Courier Low Value Shipment programme.
Codes for the Canadian declarant
- 15%: CARM surtax code 26186A.
- 25%: CARM surtax code 26186B.
- 50%: CARM surtax code 26186C.
These are Canadian accounting codes, not product classifications. Ask the importer or broker to use the correct code and calculate the surtax on the value for duty.
Goods already in transit
An exemption can apply to goods already travelling to Canada under a carrier’s control when the measure took effect. The importer must keep shipping evidence supporting that claim; simply having placed an order is not enough.
What UK e-commerce businesses should do
- Confirm the customs origin of products sold into Canada.
- Identify the correct Canadian tariff item for each product.
- Check that tariff item against the Government of Canada’s official list and rate.
- Confirm the total landed cost with the Canadian importer, carrier or customs broker.
- Keep supplier and origin evidence supporting the declaration.
- Do not assume a low parcel value removes the surtax. Confirm the accounting code and retain evidence for any in-transit exemption.
Official resources
- Department of Finance Canada: countermeasures announcement ↗
- Department of Finance Canada: affected tariff items and rates ↗
- CBSA Customs Notice 26-23: operational rules, 7 September 2026 ↗