Trump's proposed tariffs on Canada hurtle toward deadline amid trade talks

Levies on some Canadian imports are set to take effect early Saturday morning.

President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods are set to take effect early Saturday morning, just days after he pushed back a previous deadline while the two sides negotiated a trade agreement.

Trump claimed earlier this week the United States had reached a preliminary deal to resolve a dispute with one of its top trade partners, saying the breakthrough had prompted him to issue a reprieve from the levies.

A statement from Canada appeared to downplay Trump's assertion about the trade agreement, touting "substantial progress" but noting that important work remained.

The new tariffs, targeting dozens of products from hockey sticks to wine, are poised to take hold at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

Due to exemptions on key goods, the tariffs were expected to hit only a fraction of U.S. imports from Canada. Still, the list of affected goods features an array of food items such as dairy products, honey, whey protein and molasses as well as alcoholic beverages like whiskey and vodka.

It all comes weeks after Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on 60 trade partners, including the European Union. Those levies ramped up an effort to reconstruct far-reaching duties struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Trump said Wednesday that he had held a "very good conversation" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday night, repeating that he'd struck a deal to avert the 50% American tariff on a hodgepodge of Canadian goods.

The president claimed that as part of the deal, Canadian tariffs on American agricultural goods would be "non-existent."

"The tariffs will be non-existent for our farmers. Our farmers were paying tremendous tariffs into Canada. And those tariffs are going to be totally eviscerated down to zero," Trump noted.

In a statement, Carney said the country's representatives aimed to achieve an agreement that would bolster its domestic industry.

"While we continue this work, Canada remains focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more competitive economy at home," Carney said in a statement.

When later asked by a reporter whether the deal would reduce tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Trump added, "Well, we're looking at that."

The U.S. trade representative's office on X responded to Trump's announcement Tuesday, providing a bit of insight into what a final deal might entail.