03.09.2026 Regulation #USA #Import #Duties

US delays 50% tariffs on Canadian goods to August 22

The White House signed a proclamation temporarily suspending additional duties on Canadian goods on August 18, 2026 — hours before they were due to take effect. The effective date has been pushed from 12:01 a.m. ET on August 19 to 12:01 a.m. ET on August 22, 2026, giving importers a three-day window to bring Canadian goods into the US at the previous, lower rates.

The three July 20 proclamations and their postponement

The underlying duties were established by three proclamations dated July 20, 2026: Proclamation 11046 (alcoholic beverages), Proclamation 11047 (dairy, primarily cheeses), and Proclamation 11048 (motor vehicles and auto parts). All three impose an additional 50% ad valorem duty under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a provision that lets the president impose — and suspend — such duties without congressional approval when the public interest requires it. The administration's stated rationale was what it characterizes as Canadian trade discrimination in these three sectors.

Per the new proclamation's text, the pause was prompted by Canada having "expressed a commitment to remove the discriminations or unreasonable and unequal impositions" at issue, with negotiations between the two countries ongoing. Legally, the suspension relies on the same Section 338 authority that allows the president to both impose and temporarily lift duties when public interest requires it.

Entry date, not shipment date, is what counts

As explained by a GHY trade compliance briefing, the tariff applies based on a shipment's US entry date, not its date of departure from Canada. A shipment sent from Canada before August 22 but formally entered into US commerce afterward would still face the additional 50% duty. Crucially, CUSMA/USMCA origin status does not shield goods from the duty: GHY states that "these tariffs apply regardless of CUSMA-originating status," adding that "CUSMA status does not exempt covered goods from this tariff."

Who is affected and what it means in practice

The suspension affects importers of Canadian goods in three categories:

• dairy products, primarily cheeses;
• alcoholic beverages;
• motor vehicles and auto parts.

For businesses, the three-day window is not a cancellation of the tariffs but a last chance to import under the previous terms. GHY advises importers and their customs brokers to:

• confirm actual arrival timelines with carriers;
• expedite shipments where on-time entry before the deadline is achievable;
• reconsider routing or timing where timely arrival is uncertain;
• not rely on CUSMA status to avoid the duty;
• maintain close coordination with customs brokers throughout the week.

Timeline and the transition window

The key date is 12:01 a.m. ET on August 22, 2026: at that moment the suspension expires, and the additional 50% duty on Canadian dairy, alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles takes effect unless the two governments agree to a further extension before then. The proclamation does not cancel the duties — it only postpones their effective date, and with US-Canada talks continuing, the administration retains the option to extend the pause again or let the tariffs take effect as newly scheduled.

Primary sources

• Temporary Suspension of Additional Duties to Offset Canadian Discrimination (White House proclamation)
• Section 338 Tariffs: How Canadian Exporters Should Prepare Before August 19 (GHY)

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.