Trump pauses 50% tariffs on Canadian goods after last‑minute trade deal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the 50 % tariffs slated to hit a swath of Canadian imports will be put on hold for three days, after both governments reached a last‑minute trade deal.^[1][2][5]

The pause was communicated in a brief Truth Social post at 10:15 p.m., where Trump wrote that the tariffs scheduled for midnight would be suspended pending finalization of the agreement.^[4]

Scope of the tariffs and economic impact

The tariffs, set at 50 % on billions of dollars of Canadian goods, would have affected roughly $28 billion in exports ranging from hockey sticks and cement to alcohol and honey.^[4]

Negotiations and political context

U.S. and Canadian negotiators met in Washington in the final hours before the deadline, with Prime Minister Mark Carney and chief negotiator Janice Charette working alongside Trump’s team. The three‑day suspension gives both sides time to iron out details, including contentious issues such as Canadian auto tariffs and the ban on American alcohol in most provinces.^[4]

Trump also used the announcement to revive talk of the Keystone XL pipeline, calling it a “great” project killed by the previous administration, suggesting the trade deal could pave the way for renewed energy cooperation.^[4]

Reactions in Canada

Canadian officials, including Carney, declined detailed comment but indicated that the next 48 hours would be critical for finalising the deal, allowing provinces and businesses to avoid the abrupt price spikes the tariffs would have caused.^[4]