Canada Eases Tariffs on US, Chinese Steel

Canada has introduced tariff relief on select steel and aluminum imports from the United States and China to support domestic industries affected by trade tensions with both countries. Prime Minister Mark Carney is currently in talks with Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Canadian metals, while Canadian officials also met with their Chinese counterparts last week seeking similar relief for agricultural exports.

The ongoing trade disputes have weighed heavily on Canada’s economy, prompting Carney to lift many of the retaliatory tariffs his predecessor implemented on US imports in an effort to reach a new agreement with Washington.

An amendment to the 2024 Chinese import surtax remission order granted exemptions for certain steel and aluminum products that are not manufactured in Canada, effective Oct. 15. Further details will be released on Nov. 5. Additionally, the ministry waived tariffs on specific US steel and aluminum items related to public health, national security, manufacturing, agriculture, and food packaging.

“The remission process is to protect people who are in the downstream sector … to deal with exceptional circumstances,” Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said.