Trump Administration Announces Import Bans and New Tariffs on Canadian Goods
President Donald Trump issued a series of proclamations on September 8 imposing wide-ranging import bans on Canadian products and expanding the list of goods subject to tariffs. The measures, which target a broad spectrum of goods including alcoholic beverages, dairy products, molasses, non-alcoholic beer, and certain motorcycles, are set to take effect later this month.
The new import bans will be implemented beginning September 29, while changes to tariff rates will be enforced earlier, starting September 15. The administration’s actions come directly in response to the imposition of retaliatory Canadian tariffs that took effect earlier the same day.
Cheese substitutes, paper products, metal items and furniture will face 50% tariffs under Section 338. The same Annex confirms salt, Portland cement, chemically pure sugars, toilet and facial tissue, bed sheets, refined lead, switchgear assemblies and fishing rods will be removed from the Section 338 tariffs. This list of these items can be found here.
A second proclamation, also effective September 15, adds 50% tariffs to products including certain cheeses, chemically modified animal, vegetable fats and oils, hides, skins and leather, and motorboats. This list can be found here.
A third proclamation confirmed that on September 29, the U.S. will implement a ban on imports of beer, wine, and liquors (ethyl alcohol, pisco, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, bitters, brandy, tequila, etc.). This list of HTS affected by the ban can be found here.
The items subject to the ban if imported prior to September 29 but not yet entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption by that date will still face 50% Section 338 tariffs. Furthermore, if the new import bans are invalidated, the affected products will automatically become subject to the 50% tariffs.
References:
Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties Imposed to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the United States with Respect to Motor Vehicles – The White House
ANNEX-I-AUTO.pdf
ANNEX-II-AUTO.pdf
Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties Imposed to Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States with Respect to Alcoholic Beverages – The White House
Alcohol-Scope-Modification-Annex-I.pdf
Alcohol-Scope-Modification-Annex-II.pdf
Excluding Certain Canadian Alcoholic Beverages from Importation into the United States in Response to Continued Discrimination Against the Commerce of the United States with Respect to Alcoholic Beverages – The White House
ANNEX-I-ALCOHOL.pdf
