US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended a proposed 50 percent tariff on Canadian goods following last-minute talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The announcement came shortly before the measure was due to take effect on Tuesday, August 19, 2026. Trump said the tariff would not be implemented until August 22, while details of the reported agreement have not been released.
The proposed duties were set to cover about $20.2 billion in Canadian products, including electronics, industrial machinery, furniture, dairy goods and wine. Trump linked the discussions to reviving the long-disputed Keystone XL pipeline. Carney said the talks had made significant progress, but that important work remained.
About 70 percent of Canadian exports depend on the US market, meaning the tariffs could have harmed several export sectors. The tariff dispute has also increased anti-US sentiment in Canada. Experts cited in the report said concerns over economic losses, alongside protecting national sovereignty, have become important issues for Canadians.