Canada will adjust its counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the US on July 21 in line with progress in trade negotiations, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday.
Carney did not specify the new tariff rates but said the changes would reflect developments in talks with Washington.
The timing coincides with the end of a 30-day window agreed upon during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alberta, held on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
In addition to tariff adjustments, Ottawa will implement new procurement rules by June 30, restricting federal contracts to Canadian companies and "reliable trading partners," the government said in a statement.
The measures come as Canadian steel and aluminum producers struggle under the weight of steep US duties. Earlier this month, the White House doubled its tariffs on metal imports from 25% to 50%, citing damage to American workers from “unfair trade practices and global excess capacity.”
In response to escalating trade tensions, Canada will also introduce retroactive tariff quotas—set at 100% of 2024 levels—on steel imports from countries without a free trade agreement. Additional measures aimed at countering unfair trade practices in the steel and aluminum sectors will follow in the coming weeks, the government said.
Ottawa will establish two new task forces to monitor the situation: one for steel and another for aluminum. The groups will provide real-time intelligence to inform government policy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has pushed for a more aggressive stance, urging Ottawa to match Trump's tariff hike with an additional 25% on retaliatory duties. Industry Minister Melanie Joly, however, signaled that Canada would take a more measured approach.