US revises tariffs on Canadian imports ahead of October deadline
The United States has announced modifications to the list of Canadian products subject to additional 50% tariffs under Section 338, with the revised measures scheduled to take effect on 30 October 2026.
The changes were outlined in a presidential proclamation issued by the White House on 23 October. They remove several categories of Canadian goods from the existing tariff coverage while adding more than 100 products across a range of industrial and consumer sectors.
The revised product list will apply from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on 30 October, giving importers and customs intermediaries a defined implementation date for the updated duties.
Changes to Canadian products covered by tariffs
Under the revised measures, certain Canadian products will no longer be subject to the additional 50% tariffs.
The exclusions include specified seaweeds and other algae, non-adhesive plates and sheets made from polymers of propylene, and certain plywood products classified under several tariff subheadings.
Selected paper and packaging materials will also be removed from the additional duties, including bleached paper and paperboard, corrugated paperboard cartons, boxes and cases, and paper pulp.
The exemptions further extend to certain industrial machinery and refrigeration equipment, subject to the product classifications identified in the presidential proclamation.
At the same time, the White House has expanded the list of covered imports to include more than 100 additional products.
These include cocoa powder, acrylic paints, soaps, artificial waxes, chemical residuals, vinyl flooring, fiberboard and certain carpet products, among other goods.
The modifications affect specific product classifications rather than all Canadian merchandise entering the United States. Importers will therefore need to assess the tariff treatment of individual goods against the revised product list.
Implications for cross-border trade
The changes are relevant to companies involved in trade between Canada and the United States, particularly importers handling industrial materials, manufactured products, packaging and consumer goods.
For products newly included in the tariff coverage, the additional duties will become applicable from the implementation date. Goods removed from the list will no longer be subject to these specific additional Section 338 tariffs, although other applicable customs duties or trade measures may remain in place.
The revised classifications are also relevant to freight forwarders, customs brokers and logistics providers responsible for coordinating shipments and supporting import documentation.
The presidential proclamation concerns additional duties imposed under Section 338 in connection with the US administration’s stated concerns regarding Canadian treatment of American motor vehicle commerce.
The latest action adjusts the scope of products covered by those measures without announcing a general removal of the existing tariff framework.
With the changes scheduled to take effect on 30 October, companies importing affected Canadian products will need to review the revised classifications and applicable customs requirements before entry into the United States.
