Ottawa amends, extends tariff relief program beyond U.S. steel imports

Goods used by public education entities, including those mandated by Indigenous organizations, will be also be eligible for relief.

Certain goods integral to national security, public health and packaging in the agricultural and food and beverage sectors are also exempt.

Canada has maintained retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports for most of the trade dispute, but the federal government ramped up its response in September as a new wave of U.S. duties took effect.

The government now imposes counter-tariffs on a range of U.S. goods varying from 15 to 50 per cent.

Ottawa says it’s also planning to exclude goods from the remissions program that can reliably be sourced in Canada.

Certain trailers will be removed from the remissions program on Dec. 1, while aluminum wire and extrusions and paperboard products will be taken out on Feb. 1, 2027.

The federal government’s remissions program has been criticized in the past by the Canadian Steel Producers Association. The group said the relief program removes the pressure on firms to pivot to Canadian suppliers.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc argued in a media statement Monday that extending and adjusting these measures strikes the right balance.

“Extending these tariff relief measures gives Canadian companies the support they need today while encouraging greater use of Canadian-made goods and services,” LeBlanc said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2026.

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Ottawa amends, extends tariff relief program beyond U.S. steel imports

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