--- title: "US to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian cement and hockey sticks from 19 August" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-17T17:46:37.238Z" source_reported: "2026-08-17T17:21:37.000Z" updated: "2026-08-17T17:46:37.238Z" trust_score: 65 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-17T19:45:21.870154+00:00" --- # US to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian cement and hockey sticks from 19 August *Dominic LeBlanc met US trade representative as Canada prepares response to Trump administration levies* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 65 of 100, higher is better. Two named sources and a direct quote in CTV's report; others are digests. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Most digests lack context or quotes; CTV's report is detailed. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Headlines emphasize urgency but body is measured. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US will impose 50% tariffs on 19 August on Canadian goods including cement, hockey sticks, and other products, as reported by CTV News. - Canada’s trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, met virtually with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on 16 August for one hour, according to CTV News. - The US cited provincial bans on US liquor and Canada’s dairy supply management system as reasons for the tariffs, as stated by CTV News. - Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was open to selling US alcohol again if part of a broader deal, CTV News reported. The United States plans to impose 50% tariffs on 19 August on a range of Canadian goods, including cement and hockey sticks. The Trump administration cited provincial bans on US liquor and Canada’s dairy supply management system as reasons for the levies. The announcement followed an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. Canada’s trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, met virtually with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on 16 August. The meeting lasted one hour and was described as “constructive” by a spokesperson for LeBlanc. It was the fifth meeting between the two since the tariff threat was announced. LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, have been in Washington for technical discussions with their US counterparts. Some Canadian provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, have reversed bans on US alcohol in response to earlier tariffs. Others, including Ontario, have not. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was open to selling US alcohol again if it was part of a larger deal that protected Canadian sectors already subject to tariffs. Quebec’s economy minister, Bernard Drainville, said after a meeting with LeBlanc that the two sides appeared far from an agreement. ## What the reports disagree on The digests from Castanet, Airdrie City View, Thorold Today, Sudbury, Bay Today, Medicine Hat News, and Acadie Nouvelle report that LeBlanc was scheduled to meet Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on 17 August. CTV News, the only outlet with a full report, states that the meeting on 16 August was virtual and involved only LeBlanc, Greer, and Charette, with no mention of Lutnick or a meeting on 17 August. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story at all. None of the left-rated digests mentioned the specific goods targeted by the tariffs or the US reasons for imposing them. None of the digests, including those rated centre, reported the 50% tariff rate or the comments from US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer insisting Canada lift its retaliatory measures. ## Who covered it Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 61% (11) - Centre: 39% (7) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-17T19:45:21.870154+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 12 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-17T20:45:08.482Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The six left-rated digests led on the urgency of the tariff deadline and the ongoing negotiations. All six mentioned the 19 August deadline and the meeting between LeBlanc and Greer. The Rocky Mountain Outlook digest quoted Prime Minister Mark Carney saying he expected to speak with Trump before the deadline. The National Observer and SooToday.com digests noted the meeting took place days ahead of the tariff threat. - None of the left-rated digests mentioned the specific goods targeted by the tariffs, such as cement or hockey sticks. None cited the US reasons for the tariffs, including provincial alcohol bans or dairy supply management. The full report from CTV News, which is centre-rated, carried those details. ### Centre - The four centre-rated digests also led on the looming tariff deadline and the meeting between LeBlanc and Greer. The Castanet and Medicine Hat News digests mentioned that LeBlanc and Charette were in Washington for technical discussions. The Globe & Mail digest included the tariff story as part of a broader morning update but did not provide additional details. - CTV News, the only centre-rated outlet with a full report, provided the most detail. It reported the 50% tariff rate, the goods targeted, and the US reasons for the levies. It also quoted LeBlanc’s spokesperson describing the meeting as “constructive” and noted that Greer insisted Canada must lift its retaliatory measures to avoid the tariffs. The report included comments from Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec’s economy minister, Bernard Drainville. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 13 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/carney-says-he-expects-to-speak-to-trump-before-wednesdays-tariff-deadline-12673263) — Carney says he expects to speak to Trump before Wednesday's tariff deadline - [Radio Iowa](https://radioiowa.com/2026/08/17/ustr-says-chinas-making-good-faith-purchases-of-us-soybeans) — USTR says China’s making ‘good faith’ purchases of US soybeans - [Politico](https://politico.com/newsletters/weekly-trade/2026/08/17/canada-talks-roll-on-as-tariff-deadline-looms-01038953) — Canada talks roll on as tariff deadline looms - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/carney-says-he-expects-to-speak-to-trump-before-wednesdays-tariff-deadline-12673371) — Carney says he expects to speak to Trump before Wednesday's tariff deadline - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/carney-says-he-expects-to-speak-to-trump-before-wednesdays-tariff-deadline-12673263) — Carney says he expects to speak to Trump before Wednesday's tariff deadline - [Castanet](https://castanet.net/news/Canada/628271/LeBlanc-to-meet-Greer-Lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-U-S-tariffs) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-us-tariffs-12673263) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-us-tariffs-12673263) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-us-tariffs-12673263) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-us-tariffs-12673263) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/17/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-u-s-tariffs) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/national-news/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-us-tariffs-12673263) — LeBlanc to meet Greer, Lutnick as clock ticks toward new U.S. tariffs - [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/17/leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-u-s-tariffs) — Carney says he expects to speak to Trump before Wednesday's tariff deadline - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/08/17/cp-newsalert-leblanc-to-meet-greer-lutnick-as-clock-ticks-toward-new-u-s-tariffs) — Carney says he expects to speak to Trump before Wednesday’s tariff deadline - [National Observer](https://nationalobserver.com/2026/08/17/news/leblanc-met-us-trade-representative-tariff-deadline-looms) — LeBlanc met with US trade representative as tariff deadline looms - [The Globe & Mail](https://theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-morning-update-the-ticking-trade-clock) — Morning Update: The ticking trade clock - [Acadie Nouvelle](https://acadienouvelle.com/actualites/2026/08/17/droits-de-douane-dominic-leblanc-a-mene-un-blitz-de-negociations-a-washington) — Customs Duties: Dominic LeBlanc Led a Blitz of Negotiations in Washington - [corriere.ca](https://corriere.ca/dazi-usa-lipotesi-accordo-diventa-sempre-piu-remota) — U.S. Duties, the Arrangement Hypothesis Becomes Increasingly Remote - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/world/trumps-tariffs/article/leblanc-meets-with-us-trade-representative-as-tariff-deadline-looms) — LeBlanc meets with U.S. trade representative as tariff deadline looms - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/leblanc-meets-with-us-trade-representative-as-tariff-deadline-looms-12671044) — LeBlanc meets with U.S. trade representative as tariff deadline looms - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/politics/federal/leblanc-in-dc-sunday-with-no-meetings-scheduled-as-tariff-deadline-looms/article_85e78ec2-796d-51b2-8498-3e9502220742.html) — LeBlanc in D.C. Sunday with no meetings scheduled as tariff deadline looms ## Questions **What goods will the US tariffs apply to?** The US plans to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian goods including cement and hockey sticks from 19 August, as reported by CTV News. The tariffs are part of a broader set of levies announced by the Trump administration. **Why is the US imposing these tariffs?** The US cited provincial bans on US liquor and Canada’s dairy supply management system as reasons for the tariffs, according to CTV News. Some provinces have reversed alcohol bans, but others, including Ontario, have not. **What did Canada’s trade minister say about the tariffs?** Dominic LeBlanc met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on 16 August and described the meeting as “constructive,” as reported by CTV News. LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator have been in Washington for technical discussions. **Which outlets reported on the tariffs?** Twelve outlets ran the story, including six left-rated digests, four centre-rated digests, and one centre-rated full report from CTV News. No right-rated outlet covered the story. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian cement and hockey sticks from 19 August", https://mediabias.news/business/us-to-impose-50-tariffs-on-canadian-cement-and-hockey-sticks-from-19-august