Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canadian goods after the duties took effect on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, warning that higher import costs could be passed on to American families, farmers and businesses. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump’s trade policy was imposing another bill on hardworking families and called for the Canada measures to end. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg compared the trade dispute with Canada to an actual war with Iran, saying Americans were paying the price for the president’s decisions. Gov. Gavin Newsom called Canada the United States’ closest ally and critical trading partner, while Sen. Patty Murray said a tariff is a tax paid by American businesses and families. Sen. Amy Klobuchar warned that the duties would raise costs for small businesses, farmers and Minnesota families, noting that Canada is Minnesota’s No. 1 trading partner. The tariffs followed the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks before a midnight deadline and apply to about $20 billion of Canadian goods. Prime Minister Mark Carney blamed Washington, saying Canada would retaliate with dollar-for-dollar tariffs beginning Sept. 8 against sectors including steel, dairy, electronics and agricultural equipment. Canadian crude oil remained exempt from the U.S. tariffs, a significant provision because Canada supplied about 62% of U.S. oil imports. Carney called the tariffs a violation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, while global supply disruptions and Brent crude briefly topping $100 a barrel fueled concern that any disruption to energy trade could lift fuel prices.