On August 25, 2026, the Government of Canada announced the imposition of counter-tariffs of 15, 25, and 50 per cent, effective September 8, 2026, on products drawn from those targeted by U.S. Section 338 and Section 232 tariffs, with the rate for each product matching the corresponding U.S. rate.
Canada’s tariff remission framework remains available to assess requests for exceptional relief.
For more information on the revised scope of Canada’s counter-tariffs, please consult: Complete List of U.S. Products Subject to Counter-Tariffs.
The framework below outlines how the Government of Canada assesses remission requests for tariffs on products from the United States (U.S.).
In relation to requests for remission of the tariffs, the Government will consider requests for remission in the following instances:
- To address situations where goods used as inputs cannot be sourced domestically, either on a national or regional basis, or reasonably from non-U.S. sources.
- To address, on a case-by-case basis, other exceptional circumstances that could have severe adverse impacts on the Canadian economy.
Remission represents an exception to the rules by providing relief from otherwise applicable duties. As such, in all instances above, the federal government will only consider remission where it is required to address exceptional and compelling circumstances that, from a public policy perspective, are found to outweigh the primary rationale behind the application of the tariffs.
Any request for remission will be assessed by the Department of Finance, in consultation with other relevant federal departments. A request for remission could also be subject to consultation with other interested parties, including domestic producers. Recommendations will be made to the Minister of Finance. Under section 115 of the Customs Tariff, the Minister of Finance has the authority to recommend remission to the Governor in Council. To take effect, an Order in Council must also be approved by the Governor in Council.
In order to ensure that remission requests are properly substantiated and can be assessed in a timely manner, all requests that fall within the instances outlined above must provide the information requested in the applicable template.
Any confidential information must be marked as such and will be protected by the Government of Canada. Sufficient non-confidential information must be provided to allow for engagement with domestic producers so they may be consulted, as appropriate, on any short-supply issues raised. Only companies registered in Canada are eligible to request remission.
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If your business imports goods from the United States and you need assistance understanding Canada’s counter-tariffs, applicable duties, or customs requirements, Argo Customs Brokers can help.
Contact Argo Customs Brokers today for assistance with your imports and Canadian customs requirements.