The United States will ban imports of a range of Canadian goods, including alcoholic beverages, some dairy products and motorcycles, after its neighbor’s retaliatory tariffs on American goods take effect.
In a series of executive orders Tuesday, President Donald Trump said Canada was “discriminating” against the United States and outlined bans that would begin Sept. 29.
Officials on both sides have said they would like to reach a trade deal, but no new talks have been planned since talks collapsed in late August.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s trade minister, said the latest U.S. measures are “unjustifiable” and that he will work to protect the country’s workers, families and businesses.
“Our primary focus is what we can control: building strength at home, diversifying our partnerships abroad and building a Canada that is strong for all Canadians,” LeBlanc said.
He said he had contacted his American counterpart and promised to work “in good faith” to resolve tensions.
Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video message that his country’s abandonment of the United States as its largest trading partner “will come at a price.”
The new White House sanctions are the latest blow in the months-long trade war between the United States and Canada. Both countries have historically been close allies, each being a key business partner of the other.
Typically, more than two-thirds of Canada’s total exports go to the United States. In 2025, Canadian exports of alcoholic beverages to the US totaled $687 million (£507 million), dairy products $269 million and motorcycles $90 million in 2025, according to UN data compiled by Trading Economics.
However, Stephen Brown, chief North America economist at Capital Economics, said the import ban covers only 0.25% of Canadian exports to the United States.
He said: “However, Trump’s willingness to impose an import ban is further evidence, if it were needed, that these latest measures are aimed at causing economic harm rather than raising revenue.”