What US dairy products are subject to Canada's 400% tariffs?

Checked on August 2, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, none of the sources explicitly identify which specific US dairy products are subject to Canada's 400% tariffs. However, the sources reveal important structural information about Canada's dairy tariff system:

  • Canada maintains tariffs on dairy products that can reach up to 285% according to one source [1], while others mention tariffs above 200% [2] or as high as 200% or more [3]
  • These high tariffs apply only to imports that exceed Canada's tariff rate quotas [3] and kick in only after the US has hit a certain quantity of tariff-free dairy sales to Canada each year [2]
  • The tariffs apply to dairy products exceeding quota limits set by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which includes 14 categories of dairy products [3]
  • Importantly, these high tariffs are rarely triggered and almost never enforced [1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes the existence of 400% tariffs without providing crucial context about how Canada's dairy protection system actually works:

  • Canada operates under a supply management system that protects its domestic dairy industry through quotas rather than blanket high tariffs [1] [4]
  • The high tariffs serve as a protective mechanism that only applies to over-quota imports, not to all US dairy products entering Canada [3] [2]
  • Canada's dairy protections are described as a "longstanding trade irritant for the US" [5], suggesting this is part of broader trade tensions rather than punitive measures
  • The US dairy industry benefits from portraying these tariffs as barriers to market access, while Canada's dairy farmers benefit from the supply management system that these tariffs help protect [3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question contains a potentially misleading premise by asking specifically about "400% tariffs" when the sources indicate:

  • The highest tariff rate mentioned is 285% [1], not 400%
  • The question implies these tariffs apply broadly to US dairy products, when they actually only apply to over-quota imports and are "rarely triggered and almost never enforced" [1]
  • By focusing solely on the tariff percentage, the question omits the quota system context that makes these tariffs largely theoretical rather than practical trade barriers
  • The framing suggests punitive action against US dairy products, when these are actually protective measures for Canada's supply-managed dairy system [3]
Want to dive deeper?
What are the specific US dairy products affected by Canada's 400% tariffs?
How do Canada's dairy tariffs compare to other countries' tariffs on US dairy products?
What was the US response to Canada's imposition of 400% tariffs on dairy products in 2021?
How have Canada's dairy tariffs impacted US dairy farmers and the US dairy industry as a whole?
Are there any exceptions or exemptions to Canada's 400% tariffs on US dairy products?