EventAction
Canada removes most of its counter-tariffs on US goods: the full Phase 1 list (about C$30.3B of annual imports) and the non-steel, non-aluminum goods (about C$14.4B)
Effective Sept 1, 2025 under order SOR/2025-181, following Carney's Aug 22 announcement. Counter-tariffs on US steel, aluminum and autos stay. The Liberal Party's 2025 platform had promised to respond to US tariffs 'for as long as is necessary', and its costing plan counted C$20 billion of revenue from 'Canada's tariff response' in 2025-26.
- Date
- Kind
- Tariff action
- Where
- Canada
- Evidence
- Action: Something was done: a law switched on, a tariff imposed, money committed. How evidence is weighed
- Who
- Government of Canada (acted)
Sources
- Liberal Party of Canada, “Liberal Party of Canada 2025 platform, 'Canada Strong' (66-page PDF)” (external site), . source record
- Liberal Party of Canada, “Liberal Party of Canada 2025 fiscal and costing plan” (external site), . source record
- GHY International, “Canada to Remove Surtax/Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. CUSMA Goods Sept. 1, Sectoral Remain” (external site), . source record
- Canada Gazette, Part II, “Order Amending and Repealing Certain Orders Made Under the Customs Tariff (United States Surtax): SOR/2025-181” (external site), . source record
- Blakes (Blake, Cassels & Graydon), “U.S.–Canada Tariffs: Timeline of Key Dates and Documents” (external site), . source record
Quotes
“Respond to existing U.S. tariffs ... for as long as is necessary”
From Liberal Party of Canada: Liberal Party of Canada 2025 platform, 'Canada Strong' (66-page PDF), printed p.13 (PDF p.15)
Claims that rest on this event
- Ottawa is also in no hurry: it didn't ask for the crisis and isn't rushing to end it. It took a go-slow approach to the talks before July 2026, and walked away from the tentative deal announced on August 18, 2026, three days later.
Counter-tariffs removed, a concession.
Tested hypotheses: a thought experiment
Suppose Washington foresaw and wanted this. Would this event look any different than under the rival readings? This is a deliberately contrarian test, explained here, not the author’s belief. Judgments, not measurements.
Non-discriminating: this event fits the plain self-interest reading and the foresight reading equally. It does not tell them apart. What this means
| Reading | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I0a Accident Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I0b Plain self-interest; Canada's response not considered Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I1 Foreseen and welcomed, not the reason Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I2 Foreseen and wanted (this level or higher) Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| I3 Worked-out plan with specific targets Tested hypothesis (intent) | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-annex Annexation Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-frag Fragmentation Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |
| R-weaken Weaken-Canada rivals (annexation or fragmentation) Rival reading | Neutral weak | Canada removing most of its counter-tariffs is a Canadian action; it says nothing about US intent or rival goals. |