The tariffs, in plain English

Since August 22, 2026 the United States charges an extra 50% duty on a specific list of Canadian goods. The list grows on September 15 and some goods are banned outright from September 29. This page says what is on it, when, and where to check for yourself.

What happened

Section 338 of the US Tariff Act of 1930 lets the President add up to 50% duty on goods from a country found to discriminate against US commerce. On July 20, 2026 it was used for the first time. The findings named provincial liquor boards pulling US alcohol, Canada’s dairy supply management, and Canada’s 2025 counter-tariff on US vehicles. The duties are grouped into three baskets named for those findings, which is why honey, wigs, dolls and fur sit inside a “motor vehicles” proclamation and hockey sticks sit inside “alcoholic beverages”.

Three things make this different from the 2025 tariffs. The duty stacks on top of the normal rate, so a duty-free hockey stick now pays 50%. A CUSMA (USMCA) certificate of origin does not help; the goods are dutiable whether or not they qualify. And the US de minimis exemption is gone, so there is no order size small enough to skip it.

Maple syrup is not covered. HTS 1702.20 (maple sugar and maple syrup) appears in none of the Section 338 lists or annexes. The tariffs cover cane molasses and blended syrups, not maple. Maple syrup still enters the US duty-free under CUSMA. We do not list maple producers as tariff-hit. Check the CBP list.

Timeline

1. Jul 20, 2026

   Three proclamations (11046 alcoholic beverages, 11047 dairy, 11048 motor vehicles) are signed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. It is the first time the section has been used to impose tariffs. They add a 50% duty to 554 HTS lines, roughly US$20 billion of Canadian goods. White House fact sheet

2. Jul 23, 2026

   The proclamations are published in the Federal Register. New HTSUS subheadings 9903.03.12 to 9903.03.16 are created. Federal Register

3. Aug 18, 2026

   A three-day suspension moves the start date from August 19 to August 22. Proclamation

4. Aug 21, 2026

   US Customs and Border Protection publishes the definitive six-page Section 338 Canada HTS list. CBP HTS list (PDF)

5. Aug 22, 2026

   The 50% duty takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern. No exception for goods in transit. CUSMA origin does not exempt. Hockey sticks, honey, horse hair, fur pieces and fur apparel, toys and dolls, wigs, Christmas ornaments and plywood all become dutiable at 50%. CBP bulletin

6. Sep 8, 2026

   Canada's United States Surtax Order (2026) takes effect: 15%, 25% and 50% surtaxes on about C$27.6 billion of US goods. That is Canada taxing American goods, a separate measure from the US tariffs listed here. CBSA Customs Notice 26-23

7. Sep 8, 2026

   The same day, five more Section 338 proclamations are signed: two scope changes and three import bans. White House fact sheet

8. Sep 15, 2026 · upcoming

   Scope changes take effect. Added: tanned beaver and other whole furskins, fox furskins, seats and furniture, mattresses, table and floor lamps, writing and drawing paper, more cheeses, hides, aluminum and base-metal articles. Removed: salt, cement, toilet paper and tissue stock, refined lead, and fishing-rod parts and accessories (rods themselves stay covered). Annex I (PDF)

9. Sep 29, 2026 · upcoming

   Import bans take effect. Listed Canadian alcoholic beverages, whey, molasses, non-alcoholic beer and some motor-vehicle-related goods are excluded from the US entirely. A ban is not a tariff; those goods cannot enter at any price. Proclamation

Product categories we cover

The CBP list of August 22, 2026 carried 554 eight-digit lines. The September 15 changes add 116 and retire 10. Today 556 lines are in force; from September 15 that becomes 662, from plywood to cut flowers, counting the ten-digit statistical breakouts the annexes name separately. We list makers in the categories where small Canadian businesses sell direct to buyers:

• Hockey sticks and hockey equipment — Ice hockey sticks and other hockey gear carry the 50% duty, which is why Canada's last wooden-stick makers are exposed.
• Fur, pelts, and fur apparel — Trappers, tanners and fur sewers are hit on raw pieces, whole pelts and finished fur clothing.
• Horse hair, wigs, and hair goods — Horse hair jewellery, wigs and false hairpieces are named lines on the list.
• Honey and beekeepers — Natural honey is the first line in the motor-vehicle basket, so every beekeeper shipping south pays 50%.
• Dolls, toys, puzzles, and games — Dolls, wooden toys, jigsaw puzzles and board games all sit at 50%.
• Christmas ornaments and festive articles — Christmas ornaments and other festive articles are on the list, right before the season they are made for.
• Art prints, printmaking, and paper goods — Printmakers, stationers and paper mills are covered, and the September additions pulled in more graphic papers.
• Furniture, lamps, and wood articles — Woodworkers, furniture builders and lamp makers were hit in August and again on September 15.
• Other sporting goods — Golf gear, skates, exercise equipment and fishing rods round out the sporting-goods lines.

Primary sources

• White House fact sheet, July 2026 and September 8, 2026 fact sheet
• CBP Section 338 Canada HTS list (PDF) and CBP bulletin
• September 15 additions, Annex I (PDF) and motor-vehicles Annex I (PDF)
• Import bans from September 29: alcoholic beverages, dairy, whey and molasses, motor-vehicle-related
• CBSA Customs Notice 26-23 and the Department of Finance counter-tariff list (Canada’s surtax on US goods, effective September 8, 2026)
• Trade Commissioner Service on CUSMA compliance
• CBP interim final rule suspending de minimis for mail shipments (Federal Register, June 24, 2026, effective July 24, 2026)

We are not customs brokers. Codes here are copied from the official lists and matched to a maker only when their own product description fits the line. If you export, confirm your classification with CBP or a broker. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.