CTOA calls for immediate customs clarity, targeted relief and protection from unrecoverable freight costs
OTTAWA, August 22, 2026: The Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA) is calling for immediate customs guidance and targeted support for Canada’s trucking sector after Canada–U.S. trade negotiations ended without an agreement and new 50% U.S. tariffs took effect early Saturday.
The tariffs apply to approximately C$20 billion in Canadian exports, including selected dairy and alcoholic beverages, building materials, furniture, electronics, packaging, machinery, clothing and sporting goods.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar” and introduce further support for affected Canadian workers and businesses. However, details concerning Canada’s counter-tariff product list, implementation date and treatment of goods already in transit have not yet been released.
CTOA recognizes the federal government’s responsibility to defend Canadian workers, businesses and national interests. Canada’s response must also protect the small to mid size carriers and owner-operators responsible for moving goods across the border and throughout the domestic economy.
“Small carriers and owner-operators are often the first businesses to feel the effects of a trade disruption, but among the last to be considered for relief,” said Tej Dulat, Director of Government and Public Affairs for CTOA. “When a shipment is cancelled, rejected or delayed at the border, the truck still has operating costs. The driver must still be paid, fuel has already been purchased, and the carrier may be left with detention, storage, redelivery and empty-mile expenses.”
CTOA is asking the federal government to:
- Immediately publish the products covered by Canada’s countermeasures, their effective time, applicable tariff classifications and treatment of shipments already in transit.
- Include small carriers and owner-operators in federal tariff-relief and business-support programs.
- Recognize trucking losses arising from cancelled loads, reduced export volumes, detention, storage, empty repositioning, delayed payments and customer insolvencies.
- Work with importers, exporters and customs brokers to establish clear responsibility for border-related costs.
- Provide advance certainty before the federal four-cent-per-litre diesel excise-tax relief is scheduled to end after September 7.
Canadian carriers should not become the default financiers of customs disputes between governments, importers and exporters.
CTOA is advising carriers moving tariff-sensitive freight to obtain written instructions from importers or customs brokers, confirm responsibility for detention and redelivery costs, preserve shipment and border records, and avoid making independent representations concerning whether a customer’s goods are exempt from duties.
“Trucking cannot absorb every cost created by sudden changes in trade policy,” Dulat added. “Canada must protect its national interests while ensuring that responsible carriers, owner-operators and professional drivers do not become collateral damage in an escalating tariff dispute.”
CTOA will continue monitoring federal customs guidance, counter-tariff announcements, border operations and business-support measures. The association will provide further recommendations as official implementation details become available.
About the Canada Truck Operators Association
The Canada Truck Operators Association represents small and mid-sized carriers, owner-operators, independent operators and professional drivers. CTOA advocates for safe roads, fair and consistent enforcement, responsible business practices and public policies that recognize trucking’s essential role in Canada’s economy and supply chains.
Media contact:
Jas Kaur
Canada Truck Operators Association
jas.kaur@thectoa.ca
