Canadian shippers are already facing holdups as they scramble to find the tariff money to get their goods across the border.
Customs brokers say some manufacturers and exporters that had banked on hauling their cargo into the United States free of charge are now struggling to find the necessary cash, prompting transport delays.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on about US$20 billion worth of Canadian products over the weekend after trade talks collapsed, affecting sectors ranging from textiles to toiletries.
Customs broker Lisa McEwan says clients who make items ranging from sweatshirts to metal coils and agricultural machinery have all postponed shipments as they look to float thousands more dollars in duties.
She says support measures for affected industries pledged by the federal government will be welcome but amount to a “Band-Aid solution” for most small businesses.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has vowed to roll out retaliatory tariffs by Sept. 8, accused the U.S. on Saturday of trying to introduce last-minute provisions into a would-be trade agreement that would have restricted Canada’s ability to do deals with other countries.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2026.
