- Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on $27.6B of U.S. imports, with the message: ‘When Canadians stand together nothing can stop us’.
- The Liberal government is rolling out $7.5 billion to help workers and businesses weather the new 50 per cent tariffs being imposed on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods by the U.S. president.
- Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that starting Sept. 8 the government will match U.S. levies dollar for dollar by tariffing $27.6 billion of comparable U.S. goods.
- Federal ministers have outlined the Canada Strong Response Plan.
- Champagne said, "This is an unprecedented challenge imposed on Canada, but Canada will meet the moment, Canadians will meet the moment, we will meet the moment together," and "We will support our workers, our businesses and our industries with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes."
- The support package comes on top of nearly $25 billion in tariff support implemented over the past 18 months, and includes $3.5 billion directed into a rapid response initiative for workers and employers.
- The government is expanding three changes to EI first announced in September 2025, including waiving the one-week waiting period for another year, extending permission for workers to receive EI without using separation payments until Oct. 10, 2027, and giving long-tenured employees an extra 20 weeks of EI until June 2027.
- Two new measures include allowing workers who voluntarily left their jobs to collect EI without penalty, and helping connect unemployed or underemployed workers with major projects that need staff.
- Employers can get up to $1,000 per employee for training and administration costs of EI work-sharing and retention programs, enabling reduced work schedules while employees collect EI at 70 per cent of their income instead of the usual 55 per cent.
- The government is investing $2 billion to create the Canada Strong Diversification Fund to support tariff-impacted companies with shovel-ready projects, and extending the LETL liquidity period to 36 months and the maximum loan repayment period to 15 years.
Canada has responded decisively to U.S. tariffs with $27.6 billion in retaliatory measures, as Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne unveiled a comprehensive $7.5 billion support plan for impacted workers and businesses.23
The government will implement tariffs on U.S. goods starting September 8, matching the U.S. levies dollar for dollar.
"This is an unprecedented challenge imposed on Canada, but Canada will meet the moment, Canadians will meet the moment, we will meet the moment together," Champagne stated during the announcement at a roofing company in Ottawa.
The support plan includes $3.5 billion directed towards a rapid response initiative for workers and employers, alongside measures to extend Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.78
New provisions will allow workers who voluntarily leave their jobs to collect EI without penalty and provide employers with up to $1,000 per employee to cover training costs.
Additionally, the government is investing $2 billion into the Canada Strong Diversification Fund to support tariff-impacted companies with shovel-ready projects.1314
This support comes on top of nearly $25 billion in tariff support implemented over the past 18 months, highlighting the government's commitment to protecting Canadian workers and industries amidst escalating trade tensions.
“The $7.5B package includes $3.5B for a rapid response initiative and expands EI changes, including waiving the one-week waiting period for another year. Finance Minister Champagne said, 'We will support our workers, our businesses and our industries with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.'”
