Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect just after midnight on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on nearly $28 billion worth of Canadian products came into force after trade talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down last month. As a response, Ottawa unveiled dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs targeting the same value of U.S. goods. Drawing from the list of products being tariffed by the U.S., the Canadian counter-tariffs target roughly 700 American imports, including dairy, plywood and sunscreen. “We couldn’t accept what they offered. We wouldn’t give what they’d asked. As a result, the U.S. has imposed new tariffs designed to hurt and divide us,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week. It remains to be seen if Canadian counter-tariffs will bring American officials back to the negotiating table, or if they will lead to further U.S. escalation and retaliation, which could target Canadian goods like alcohol, dairy and steel. Key details: Here’s what’s happening on Sept. 8, 2026: Carey warns Canadians of tough times ahead Prime Minister Mark Carney is warning Canadians that the country’s pivot away from the United States will come at a cost, but that the alternative would be far worse. In a national video address set to be released on Tuesday, Carney reiterated Canada’s plan to respond to the U.S. trade war, including retaliatory tariffs which kicked in just after midnight. Carney says the aim is to come out stronger and more resilient so no country can hold Canada hostage. The Canadian Press What is Canada targeting? Canada’s counter-tariffs include a 50 per cent tariff on a variety of American dairy products such as milk and cream, and a 25 per cent tariff on fresh cheese and curd. Canada is also targeting U.S. wood products with 25 per cent tariffs on softwood, including pine, fir and spruce. Multiple steel and aluminum products are also being hit with a 50 per cent tariff, up from the current 25 per cent rate. They include steel rods, bars and sheets, along with prefabricated items such as bridges, towers, scaffolding, and door and window frames. Some beauty products and makeup are now subject to 50 per cent tariffs, including perfumes, sunscreen and suntan products, lip and eye makeup, manicure and pedicure preparations, and hair products. Phil Hahn, CTV News senior producer Quebec on Bombardier threats Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette offered her support to Bombardier after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Monday to stop the sale of products from the Montreal-based company in the U.S. Trump said in a social media post that the aircraft aren’t “good enough,” adding if Canada wants to keep selling Bombardier aircraft in the U.S., they must be built there. Fréchette said in a social media post that she would not respond to provocation with provocation. Robin Della Corte, CTV News Montreal digital reporter Sapporo shifting production to U.S. With 50 per cent tariffs targeting Canadian beer exports to the U.S., Japan’s Sapporo Breweries Ltd. has announced that it will be shifting some production from Canada to the U.S. In Canada, Sapporo beer is made at the Sleeman Breweries facility in Guelph, Ont., which Sapporo acquired in 2006.According to several media reports, Sapporo plans to move production of non-alcoholic beer destined for the U.S. market to an American facility in the first half of 2027 in order to avoid tariffs. The Japanese beer giant says it is also considering opening a U.S. brewery on the West Coast. Daniel Otis, CTVNews.ca journalist Trump targets Canada on Truth Social U.S. President Donald Trump made a flurry of social media posts over the Labour Day long weekend targeting Canada. They included a Truth Social post on Monday showing a map covered entirely by a U.S. flag and the words “United States of America.” In the image, the U.S. map blankets Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, Iceland and Greenland. Trump also turned to Truth Social on Monday to declare, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES!” Elianna Lev, CTVNews.ca journalist
