📰 Tariff News & Client Advisories

TariffsSTATUS: CONFIRMED — counter-tariffs of 15/25/50% effective Sept 8, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Client Advisory: Canada Confirms 15/25/50% Retaliatory Tariffs on C$27.6B of US Imports — Effective September 8, 2026

Published August 25, 2026By ABD Legacy LLC

What importers should know now:

• Origin + in-transit rules. The tariffs apply only to goods originating from the US (CUSMA marking regulations); US goods already in transit to Canada on Sept 8 are not covered.
• Tier varies by HTS line. The category-level shorthand is 50% for steel/aluminum, 25% for electronics/appliances/dairy, 15% for farm equipment — but confirm your exact 8-digit HS code against the official 629-item list (revised Aug 26) before booking.
• Scope is wider than the six focus sectors. The list also covers furniture, apparel/clothing, cosmetics, tools, sporting goods, motorcycles/trailers, and more.
• Support package. A C$7.5 billion package (C$1.5B Regional Tariff Response Initiative, C$500M BDC Pivot to Grow, C$2B Canada Strong Diversification Fund, C$3.5B Rapid Response Supports) accompanies the measures, on top of nearly C$25B in cumulative supports. Existing Canadian counter-tariffs on US autos remain in place.
• Watch the US side. On Aug 24, 2026 President Trump announced US tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel will rise to 50% on January 1, 2027 — announcement only, not yet signed.

Key dates

• Aug 21, 2026 — US–Canada trade talks collapse; negotiators recalled to Ottawa.
• Aug 22, 2026 (12:01 a.m. EDT) — US 50% Section 338 duty on C$27.6B (~US$20B) of Canadian goods takes effect.
• Aug 24, 2026 — Trump announces (Truth Social): US tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to rise to 50% on Jan 1, 2027 (announcement only).
• Aug 25, 2026 — Canada confirms 15/25/50% counter-tariffs on C$27.6B of US imports; C$7.5B support package.
• Sep 8, 2026 (12:01 a.m. ET) — Canadian counter-tariffs come into force (629 items, revised Aug 26; US-origin only; in-transit exemption).

Use the updated calculator. The Tariff Calculator 2026 now applies the tiered retaliation rates when you switch "Shipping To" to Canada with a US-origin shipment — 50% steel/aluminum, 25% electronics/appliances/dairy, 15% farm equipment — gated on the September 8, 2026 entry date (PENDING before then), with representative HS lines, the origin rule, and the in-transit exemption shown on each estimate.

TariffsSTATUS: IN FORCE — Proclamation 11059 signed Aug 26, published Aug 31, 2026

Client Advisory: Beef Quota Increase — 300,000 Metric Tons Added for Sept–Nov 2026 (Proclamation 11059)

Published August 21, 2026By ABD Legacy LLC

What importers should know now:

• It is a proclamation, not an executive order — and it is in force. The August announcement described an executive order to be signed within two weeks; what issued was Proclamation 11059, signed Aug 26 and published Aug 31, 2026. The relief runs through the beef TRQ, not as a stand-alone tariff waiver.
• Three fixed tranches, first come, first served. 100,000 MT Sept 1–30, 2026 · 100,000 MT Oct 1–30, 2026 · 100,000 MT Oct 31 – Nov 30, 2026 or until the added quantity is filled, whichever is earlier. CBP administers the added quantity.
• Scope is published. Lean beef trimmings under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091, 0202.30.5097. The entire additional quantity is allocated to "other countries or areas"; Argentina's 80,000 MT allocation from Proclamation 11010 is unchanged.
• Duty treatment is settled — and it is not duty-free. Entries under the added quota are subject to the in-quota rate of duty (4.4¢/kg). What they avoid is the 26.4% out-of-quota rate. The Aug 21 open question about the 4.4¢/kg baseline is therefore answered.
• The 25% discount is a monitored condition. USDA and USTR must monitor whether the imports are sold at 25% below the market price for lean beef trimmings; if not, they must notify the President, who may eliminate what remains of the increase. It is not an exporter price guarantee, and the benchmark is trimmings — not retail.
• Model it now. Run the scenario in the Tariff Calculator 2026 — select "Ground Beef — Proclamation 11059 Beef TRQ Increase (Sept–Nov 2026)" and an import date inside the tranche window (Sept 1 – Nov 30, 2026); outside the window the 26.4% out-of-quota rate applies.

TariffsSTATUS: IN EFFECT — 50% additional duty applies as of Aug 22, 2026

Client Advisory: Canada Section 338 50% Tariffs — IN EFFECT Since Aug 22, 2026

Published August 19, 2026Updated August 22, 2026By ABD Legacy LLC

What happened: The three proclamations were signed July 20, 2026 with an original August 19 effective date. On August 18, 2026 — hours before the duty was due — President Trump announced a three-day suspension after a preliminary deal, setting a new effective date of August 22. The August 19–21 talks collapsed; PM Carney recalled negotiators to Ottawa and announced dollar-for-dollar retaliation beginning September 8, 2026 (US steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural machinery, paper, electronics).

What importers should do now

• Book the 50% additional duty for Canadian-origin covered goods entered on or after August 22, 2026, 12:01 a.m. EDT, on top of existing MFN and other duties. No in-transit grace period has been announced.
• Verify product coverage. The covered list spans dairy (milk, cream, whey, lactose, sugars), alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, cider), wood & hockey equipment, honey, seeds, tulips and orchids, cement, candles, wigs, clothing, chandeliers, ice skates, swimming pools, fishing rods, and more. Official line-level HTS numbers are in the three July 20 proclamations / USTR statement — confirm your HTS against that list, not the shorthand.
• No USMCA exemption. The duty applies even to CUSMA/USMCA-qualifying goods — do not assume origin qualification protects you.
• Confirm exemptions: energy products, potash, fish, critical minerals, and items already under Section 232 are outside the duty. Pre-existing steel/lumber/auto tariffs remain in force and stack.
• Watch Canadian retaliation from September 8, 2026 if you import US steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural machinery, paper, or electronics into Canada.

Key dates

• Jul 20, 2026 — Three Section 338 proclamations signed: 50% additional duty on ~$20B of Canadian goods; original effective date Aug 19.
• Aug 18, 2026 (Tue, evening) — Trump announces 3-day suspension; new effective date Aug 22.
• Aug 19, 2026 (Wed, 12:01 a.m. ET) — Original effective date passed without the duty taking effect (suspension active).
• Aug 19–21, 2026 — Three days of talks fail; no final agreement.
• Aug 22, 2026 (Sat, 12:01 a.m. EDT / 04:01 GMT) — 50% duty takes effect. Carney announces dollar-for-dollar retaliation; negotiators recalled to Ottawa.
• Sep 8, 2026 — Canadian retaliatory tariffs begin (US steel, dairy, appliances, ag machinery, paper, electronics).

Use the updated calculator. The Tariff Calculator 2026 now includes the 50% duty in estimates when you select Canada and a covered product category (Automotive, Food & Beverages, or Canada Section 338 Covered Goods), and displays the effective date and sources with each estimate. Carney suspended further talks, so expect this advisory to be updated as the September 8 retaliation takes shape.