Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Trump Pauses 50% Canada Tariffs Pending Three-Day Deal Finalization
The United States planned to charge a large extra fee on some products from Canada.
The fee was set at 50 percent and covered goods worth about $20 billion.
President Donald Trump said the fee would begin early Wednesday.
Before that happened, he announced a three-day pause.
He said the United States and Canada had reached a deal, but the documents still needed to be finished.
Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had spoken during several negotiations.
Canada had warned that it might impose its own fees in response.
The pause gives both countries more time to complete their agreement.
President Donald Trump paused planned 50% tariffs on Canadian imports for three days.
The tariffs were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
The duties would have affected about $20 billion in Canadian goods, including hockey sticks and clothing.
Trump said the pause was based on a deal with Canada pending final paperwork.
The announcement followed weeks of negotiations and calls between Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, the United States, Canada, and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- What
- Trump paused planned 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian imports for three days, citing a prospective trade deal.
- When
- Trump announced the pause on Tuesday, before the tariffs were scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
- Where
- The measure concerns trade between the United States and Canada; Trump announced it on Truth Social.
- Why
- Trump said the pause was contingent on finalizing deal documents after negotiations between the two countries.
United States Position
Canadian Position
Reason for the tariffs
United States Position
Trump said the tariffs responded to what he called unequal treatment of American cars, dairy, and alcohol.
Canadian Position
Canada opposed the threatened tariffs and warned it would respond with its own levies.
Status of the agreement
United States Position
Trump said the two countries had a deal, but only subject to finalizing the documents.
Canadian Position
Canadian officials described the talks as delicate and intense, and the articles provide no details confirming the final terms.
- Tariff rate
- 50%
- Duration of pause
- Three days
- Potentially affected imports
- About $20 billion in Canadian goods
- Planned start time
- 12:01 a.m. Wednesday
- Announcement platform
- Truth Social
- Negotiation timeline
- Weeks of talks, including calls between Trump and Carney
- Potential Canadian response
- Canada had warned it could impose its own levies
Sources
Trump says Canada deal reached, pauses 50% tariffs
Trump pauses 50% tariff on Canada for 3 days after talks with Carney
US-Canada trade deal: Donald Trump pauses 50% tariffs on Canadian imports for 3 days
Trump Halts 50% Tariffs On Canada For Three Days, Says Deal 'Subject To Finalisation'