Topics

Trump pauses tariffs on Canada for three days

  • Kelly Geraldine Malone

  • Canadian Press

  • August 18, 2026

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump speak at a working luncheon during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he is hitting pause for three days on new tariffs that were set to hit Canada just after midnight.

The president says on social media that the duties were delayed "based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!"

Trump pointed to the Keystone XL pipeline, saying it "may be awoken from the grave!"

Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Trump on the phone Tuesday, just hours before the U.S. was set to bring in the punishing tariffs.

The U.S. was set to impose 50 per cent levies on roughly $28-billion worth of Canadian goods, targeting a range of products from hockey sticks and honey to wine and cement.

Top trade officials from Ottawa have been in Washington to hammer out a deal with their American counterparts to prevent the tariffs from being imposed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2026.