OTTAWA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday announced retaliatory tariffs on C$27.6 billion ($19.94 billion) worth of United States goods, matching dollar-for-dollar new duties imposed by Washington, and unveiled financial support for Canadian businesses and workers caught in the escalating trade war.

The counter-tariffs take effect on U.S. goods from September 8 and will impose duties of 15%, 25% and 50% across 700 products imported from south of the border, a government statement said.

In terms of financial support for affected workers and industries, Canada announced a C$7.5 billion package of new and enhanced measures including support for small and medium-sized businesses, a stream for funding cash flows of companies, and support for workers who could be at risk due to the new tariffs.

From Saturday, President Donald Trump’s new 50% tariffs across $20 billion of Canadian imports took effect after talks between the two countries to avert the tariffs collapsed.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about the trade dispute with the United States at the Davie Shipyard in Levis, Quebec, Canada on August 24, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP via Getty Images)

ANDREJ IVANOV via Getty Images

The new tit-for-tat tariffs mark a new low in the Canada-U.S. relationship.

“Our dollar-for-dollar, rate for rate counter-tariffs as well as a multi-billion dollar support package will protect workers, farmers, families, and businesses,” Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said.

The new tariffs are designed so that the impact on Canadian consumers and businesses is minimal and could still hit the U.S., a government official said.

The 50% tariffs are on some important sectors such as steel, aluminum, furniture and clothing, 25% tariffs are on cheese, appliances and some seafood, while the 15% tariffs will be on electronics and tools, the official said.

(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Caroline Stauffer )