The Government of Canada announced new measures today aimed at supporting Canadian workers and businesses, responding to ongoing uncertainty in Canada-U.S. trade relations.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne; the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Honourable Mélanie Joly; the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, the Honourable Evan Solomon; and the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu.
The measures come in response to the U.S. decision to impose a 50-percent tariff on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods, effective August 22. In response, Minister Champagne confirmed that Canada will implement matching counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, with rates aligned dollar-for-dollar and rate-for-rate with the new U.S. tariffs.
Effective September 8, Canada will apply counter-tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent to products covered by the U.S. Section 338 and Section 232 tariffs. The measures will cover approximately $27.6 billion in U.S. imports and will target products in sectors significantly affected by the new U.S. tariffs, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.
Alongside the counter-tariffs, the federal government is introducing a $7.5 billion package of new and enhanced measures intended to provide support to Canadian workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs. The new measures build on nearly $25 billion in support that the government says has already been provided since the implementation of the U.S. tariffs.
This package includes:
- An additional $1.5 billion investment through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), to help small and medium-sized enterprises, including liquidity supports to manage the pressures related to tariffs.
- A new $500 million liquidity stream under the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Pivot to Grow program to help businesses manage immediate cash-flow pressures in addition to targeted programs for the forestry, steel and aluminum sectors.
- Broadened access to the Business Development Bank of Canada’s tariff related programs by lowering the minimum revenue requirement for applicants to $1 million.
- An additional $2 billion investment through the new Canada Strong Diversification Fund, to support tariff-affected businesses with shovel-ready projects that support ongoing capital maintenance. This new initiative will work closely with RDA programming for project intake and triage.
- A new suite of $3.5 billion Rapid Response Supports for Workers and Employers to help Canadians affected by tariffs – the stated aim being to help workers access income support when they need it through extended and additional EI temporary flexibilities; and support their transition into new opportunities through new investments in training delivered in the workplace and enhancements to JobBank.gc.ca. The government also states this will also help employers keep their workforce through a difficult period with the help of the new Worker Retention and Retraining Program (WRRP).
- New flexibilities to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility, administered by the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC).
For Canada’s trucking industry, the continued uncertainty in Canada-U.S. trade relations has direct implications for the movement of goods and the businesses that rely on a stable cross-border supply chain. With trucking serving as a critical link between Canadian producers, manufacturers, retailers and U.S. markets, the government’s targeted countermeasures and new support measures will be important as companies navigate changing trade conditions, shifting freight volumes and increased costs.
CTA will continue to monitor the situation closely and assess what these measures meant for Canada’s trucking industry and the broader supply chain. CTA members can provide feedback on tariff impacts to their operations and access to programs at tariffs@cantruck.ca
CTA will also work to ensure government support is only directed to companies that are compliant with tax and labour laws, so that assistance reaches businesses operating responsibly and contributing to a safe, competitive and sustainable trucking industry. CTA is in contact with officials and more information will be provided to members as further details become available.
Further details on today’s announcements can be found below:
- Canada announces targeted countermeasures and substantive support for workers and businesses in response to U.S. tariffs: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/08/canada-announces-targeted-countermeasures-and-substantive-support-for-workers-and-businesses-in-response-to-us-tariffs.html
- Support for Canadian workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/08/support-for-canadian-workers-and-businesses-affected-by-us-tariffs.html
- List of products from the United States subject to counter-tariffs effective September 8, 2026: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/08/list-of-products-from-the-united-states-subject-to-counter-tariffs-effective-september-8-2026.html
