U.S. Slaps 50% Tax on $20 Billion of Canadian Goods

At 12:01 a.m. ET on August 19, 2026, the U.S. began taxing Canadian imports — from wine to building materials — at 50% of their price. Talks on August 18 failed to stop it. The administration says Canada unfairly blocks American motor vehicle and dairy sales, triggering the measure under a trade law called Section 338.