Canada's tariff response arrives three weeks after U.S. tariffs

A tariff is a tax on imported goods. The U.S. hit $20 billion of Canadian imports with a 50% tariff on August 19. Canada's matching tariff on $20 billion of U.S. goods doesn't start until September 8. During that three-week gap, Canadian exporters pay the new U.S. tax while American exporters face no new Canadian tax yet.