On Friday (August 22), Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a significant reset in the trade relationship between Canada and the United States. The Prime Minister announced that Canada would withdraw retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that are CUSMA compliant, with the exception of auto, steel, and aluminum. The intent of the move is to reduce the economic hardship suffered by Canadians and Canadian businesses as a result of the tariffs.
As Pets Canada members know, the association has led a fierce campaign to call for a return to a free trade and tariff free relationship between Canada and the U.S. Pets Canada has consistently delivered the message that retaliatory tariffs hurt Canada’s pet owners and the pet care industry. Retaliatory tariffs increase prices on the necessary, everyday goods required to keep Canadian pets happy and healthy.
Pets Canada CEO Christine Carriere thanked the Prime Minister for his decision, highlighting the withdrawal of retaliatory tariffs is in line with Pets Canada’s advocacy to ensure that our members are able to provide Canadian pet owners with the supplies they need. “Pets Canada would like to thank the Prime Minister for listening to our industry and ensuring that retaliatory tariffs don’t further raise costs for Canadian pet owners. Pets Canada has called on the Prime Minister to avoid hurting Canadian small businesses and consumers through increasing costs at a time when there is already a cost-of-living crisis in Canada. We hope that this provides an opening to ultimately return to a free trade environment between Canada and the U.S.”
The Prime Minister also announced that in the coming months, Canada will begin stakeholder relations in preparation for the CUSMA review in 2026. Pets Canada will continue to analyze the impact of tariffs and trade on our members and engage with the Government of Canada on key consultations relating to CUSMA going forward. Resources and updates can be found on the Pets Canada Tariff News & Updates page.
