Trump Administration Imposes 50% Tariffs on Canadian Goods, Including Pulp and Paper Products
The Trump administration has announced new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian imports, including pulp and paper products, under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The measures were introduced through three presidential proclamations signed by President Donald J. Trump in response to what the administration described as Canada’s discriminatory treatment of U.S. products.
According to the White House, the tariffs are intended to offset the disadvantages faced by American businesses and support key U.S. export sectors, including automobiles, alcohol and dairy products. The proclamations impose separate 50% tariffs on different categories of Canadian imports, covering products ranging from wine and hockey sticks to cement.
The new tariffs will apply to all covered Canadian goods regardless of whether they qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, certain products have been exempted from the measures, including energy products, potash, goods already subject to Section 232 tariffs, as well as selected items such as fish and critical minerals.
The tariffs are scheduled to take effect on August 19.
Responding to the announcement, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) expressed concern over the potential impact on the forest products industry. AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock said that while the association supports efforts to address unfair trade practices and strengthen U.S. manufacturing, broad tariffs on Canadian raw materials could disrupt highly integrated North American supply chains.
Brock noted that the pulp, paper, packaging and tissue industries rely on cross-border supply networks that support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the United States. She added that maintaining supply-chain certainty is essential for encouraging long-term investments in U.S. mills, equipment and workforce development.
The association also emphasized that the North American forest products industry is already facing increasing competition from non-market economies and concerns over excess production capacity in countries such as China. It urged policymakers to preserve regional competitiveness while pursuing trade measures aimed at addressing unfair global trade practices.
