On September 8, 2026, Canadian tariffs on approximately USD 20 billion worth of U.S. goods took effect, highlighting the recent escalation in the trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada.
The tariffs will range from 15% to 50% and will be applied across a range of more than 700 U.S. goods. Products including steel,

Note: Some figures were updated on September 7.
According to preliminary data compiled by MarkLines as of September 2, 2026, including estimates for GM and Stellantis, U.S. new-vehicle sales in August 2026 totaled 1,378,719 units, down 6.6% year-over-year. The decline was influenced by the fact that there were 26 sel

On September 1, Canada entered its next phase and released another 24,500 import permits for China-made electrified vehicles. The latest import allocation arrives as established brands resume Chinese production sourcing, and new OEMs prepare sales operations.
Following a revised policy that emerged from a January tra

On August 27, Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman said that Canada cannot accept a trade deal with the U.S. unless it ensures ‌the survival of a robust Canadian auto assembly and parts industry.
"It makes up a huge part of our industrial complex, both in Ontario and Quebec," Wiseman told Reuters.
Regarding discussion of

On August 27, multiple sources reported that the Trump administration is considering a new round of tariffs on semiconductors despite warnings from tech companies that the move could doom U.S. hopes of dominating artificial intelligence.
People familiar with the matter said that one approach being discussed could see

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will address the European Parliament on September 17 and attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, which sets out the EU’s policy priorities and political direction, a day earlier.
The timing follows Carney’s pledge to seek an ever-close

On August 24, multiple sources reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed optimism that she can reach a trade deal with President Trump as her chief negotiator leads talks in Washington, following collapsed negotiations between the U.S. and Canada.
“As President Trump said, we hope to reach an ag

On August 25, Honda Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara told reporters at ⁠a roundtable discussion in Washington D.C. that the company might not build an ‌eighth assembly plant in North America unless the USMCA trade deal is extended.
Kaihara said the company is close to full production capacity in North America

On August 24, President Trump announced in a post on Truth Social he is doubling tariffs on automobiles and auto parts from Canada to a rate of 50%, beginning on January 1, 2027, further escalating the North American trade war.
Trump's latest threat comes after 50% U.S. tariffs on many other Canadian goods went into

On August 25, Canada detailed the dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on USD 20 billion (CAD 27.6 billion) worth of U.S. goods, which will go into effect September 8. The government also unveiled CAD 7.5 billion in support for workers and businesses.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the new tariffs would

Tariffs. Slumping Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) sales. Soaring gasoline prices. Geopolitical instability. Rock-bottom consumer confidence. An affordability crisis for new vehicles. All these factors are at work in the US Light Vehicle (LV) market in 2026. And yet, sales are holding up remarkably well. Admittedly, vo

On August 21, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered his negotiators to walk away from U.S. trade talks after the Trump administration made late demands on autos, culture and sovereignty that Canada deemed unacceptable. Carney said the U.S. “asked too much and offered too little,” showing it was not seeking a “t

As U.S. and Canadian negotiators are still working out details of a trade pact during a three-day pause of punitive U.S. tariffs originally announced for August 19, some details have arrived from people familiar with knowledge of the forthcoming agreement.
Among concessions from both sides, the source said that  U.S.

The Sheinbaum administration in Mexico is considering plans to impose further trade restrictions and higher import taxes on products from China and other countries to better align itself with U.S. interests, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Mexico’s economy and finance ministries are evaluating whic

On August 18, President Trump said he paused 50% tariffs on goods from Canada, which were scheduled to start the next day, for a three day period, saying the countries had reached a deal and continue to negotiate new terms.
“Substantial progress has been made, although there is important work still to be done,” Canad

Increased U.S. tariffs have been with us since April 2025, justified by U.S. President Trump as a means of growing the U.S. manufacturing sector. However, while manufacturing of all goods have shown mixed results, with some up and some down, auto manufacturing jobs in July showed a YoY decline, according to data from

On August 18, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) stated that the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through to 31 December 2028 approved by US Senate provides important strategic breathing room for South Africa and preserves a framework for future tra

U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke over the phone on August 17 regarding trade negotiations between the two countries. U.S. and Canadian officials have been negotiating an agreement that would avoid 50% tariffs on approximately USD 20 billion worth of Canadian goods, which is se

Ford and General Motors are taking different positions as the U.S. revises its tariff policies and reviews the USMCA trade agreement.
Ford is pushing for higher tariffs on imported vehicles from countries such as South Korea, where GM produces many lower-cost vehicles. Ford also wants lower tariffs on imported alumin

Ford, GM, and Stellantis are warning that proposed changes to the USMCA could cost each company billions of dollars annually.
The Trump administration is considering raising North American vehicle content requirements from 75% to 92% and requiring at least 50% U.S.-made content for vehicles to qualify for lower tarif