Canada Drops U.S. Fish and Maine Lobster From Sept. 8 Tariff List

TL;DR: Canada removed U.S. fish and seafood, including Maine lobster, from its September 8 retaliatory tariff list, replacing them with 50% levies on other U.S. goods to match American tariffs "dollar for dollar, rate for rate," per Champagne's office. The revised list covers about 700 items. Most farm machinery was also left off. U.S. dairy stays on Canada's 25% list.

Key takeaway

Canada exempted U.S. seafood and most farm machinery from its Sept. 8 tariffs but kept U.S. dairy on the 25% list.

What happened

Ottawa removed U.S. fish and seafood, including Maine lobster, from the retaliatory tariff list set to take effect September 8. In their place, Canada added 50% tariffs on other U.S. goods to "better match the American tariffs dollar for dollar, rate for rate," according to the office of Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

The revised retaliatory list covers approximately 700 items, with levies of up to 50%. Canadian lobster processors, who rely on U.S. imports to supply their plants, were described as "ecstatic" at the carve-out. U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins of Maine welcomed the move.

Most farm machinery was also left off Canada's final list, sparing U.S. and Canadian farmers a major input-cost hit. U.S. dairy products, including milk, cream, and cheese, remain on Canada's 25% list.

Canada is the third-largest market for U.S. seafood, worth roughly $1 billion in 2025. These developments sit against the backdrop of the broader Farm Bill 2.0 debate, tracked on our timeline and status page.

What it means

The seafood exemption directly benefits U.S. fishermen and Maine lobster harvesters, along with the Canadian processors that buy their catch. Removing lobster and fish from the list reopens a roughly $1 billion export channel that faced disruption.

Here is the breakdown of who is affected:

• Seafood and lobster exporters: Exempted from the Sept. 8 tariffs. Trade continues without the new levy.
• Farm equipment buyers: Most machinery left off the list, avoiding higher input costs.
• U.S. dairy producers: Milk, cream, and cheese remain subject to Canada's 25% tariff, so no relief here.
• Row-crop farmers: Analysts warn the broader 50% tariff standoff could shift U.S. crop production and land-use decisions for years.

The trade pressure compounds what commentators call a "hopelessly out of date" farm safety net. That framing feeds directly into the reauthorization debate, where readers can compare current provisions on our what's new vs. 2018 and funding breakdown pages.

What's next

As of August 28, 2026, the revised Canadian tariffs are expected to take effect September 8. The dairy tariffs remain in place, and no exemption for U.S. milk, cream, or cheese has been announced.

Analysts expect the continued 50% tariff standoff on non-exempt goods to influence what American farmers plant and how they use their land over the coming seasons. That uncertainty is likely to sharpen calls for an updated commodity and safety-net framework in the current bill, which readers can follow on our Senate status page.

Farmers and exporters affected by the tariff changes can reach their representatives through our contact Congress tool. Further changes to Canada's list are possible as trade negotiations continue.

Frequently asked questions

Did Canada remove Maine lobster from its Sept. 8 tariff list?

Yes. Canada removed U.S. fish and seafood, including Maine lobster, from its September 8 retaliatory tariff list. Ottawa replaced the seafood items with 50% tariffs on other U.S. goods to match American tariffs "dollar for dollar, rate for rate," according to Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's office. Canadian lobster processors were described as "ecstatic" at the carve-out.

Is U.S. dairy still subject to Canadian tariffs?

Yes. U.S. dairy products, including milk, cream, and cheese, remain on Canada's 25% retaliatory tariff list. Unlike seafood and most farm machinery, dairy was not exempted from the September 8 measures. No exemption for U.S. dairy has been announced as of August 28, 2026.

Was farm equipment included in Canada's retaliatory tariffs?

No. Most farm machinery was left off Canada's final retaliatory tariff list, sparing U.S. and Canadian farmers and dealers a major input-cost hit. Coverage described farmers and equipment dealers as breathing "a sigh of relief." The revised list still covers about 700 items with levies of up to 50%.

How much is the U.S. seafood market in Canada worth?

Canada is the third-largest market for U.S. seafood, worth roughly $1 billion in 2025. Removing fish and Maine lobster from the September 8 tariff list reopens that export channel without the new levy. The exemption benefits U.S. fishermen and the Canadian processors that buy their catch to supply plants.

How could the trade war affect what U.S. farmers grow?

Analysts warn the broader 50% tariff standoff could shift U.S. crop production and land-use decisions for years. The pressure compounds what commentators call a "hopelessly out of date" farm safety net. Uncertainty over export markets is likely to influence planting choices and land use over coming seasons and feed into the current farm bill debate.

Sources

• BNN Bloomberg , Canada replacing seafood counter-tariffs with taxes on other items, dated 2026-08-27.
• RealAgriculture , Most farm equipment left off Canada's retaliatory tariff list, dated 2026-08-27.
• The Conversation , U.S.-Canada trade war could reshape what American farmers grow, dated 2026-08-27.