Huron Chamber seeking business input on new U.S. tariffs

The Huron Chamber of Commerce is asking businesses throughout Huron County to tell us how newly announced U.S. tariffs could affect their operations if the measures proceed.

We want to hear from businesses that export directly to the United States, supply Canadian exporters, purchase products or components from the U.S., or expect the announcement to affect customers, contracts, pricing, employment or investment decisions. An online form is available at the bottom of this article. Businesses do not need to be Chamber members to respond.

On July 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed three proclamations announcing additional 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 19, 2026.

The White House says the measures respond to Canadian policies affecting American motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and dairy products. However, the products selected for tariffs extend well beyond those sectors, with the administration identifying examples ranging from wine and cement to hockey sticks. The new tariffs would apply to covered goods even when they qualify under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

Energy, potash, fish, critical minerals and products already subject to certain U.S. national security tariffs are among the stated exclusions. Businesses will need to review the detailed product classifications to determine whether particular exports are covered.

Affected Products

The Huron Chamber has produced this guide to the 554 products and categories affected by the proposed Section 338 tariffs.

Revised: 24 July 2026
Businesses should not rely on this list for customs classification or business decisions and should confirm all information with a qualified customs broker or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The official tariff schedules identify affected goods using U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes rather than product names. The White House says the products range from wine to hockey sticks to cement, but the schedules cover a much broader range of agricultural, consumer and manufactured goods. Businesses that export to the United States should confirm the classification used for their products through the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule or with their customs broker:

• Products listed under the alcoholic beverages proclamation
• Products listed under the dairy proclamation
• Products listed under the motor vehicles proclamation

There remains considerable uncertainty about whether the tariffs will take effect as announced. The proclamations provide a 30-day period before implementation and allow the President to suspend, revoke, supplement or amend the measures. The Canadian government has indicated that it is prepared to negotiate, while the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has urged both countries to use the 30-day window to advance formal talks.

“We hope these tariffs never take effect, but businesses cannot simply ignore an announcement of this scale,” said Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. “We need to understand where Huron County businesses may be exposed, directly or through their customers and supply chains, so that local concerns can be represented clearly in the discussions taking place provincially and nationally.”

The effects may extend beyond businesses that ship finished products across the border. Local manufacturers may supply exporters elsewhere in Ontario, while agricultural, construction, transportation, retail and service businesses may depend on affected customers or suppliers.

Information submitted through the form below will help the Chamber identify local concerns and inform its work with the Ontario and Canadian chambers, governments and economic development partners.