Why the US-Canada trade war could change how American farmers grow their crops for years

Most healthy soybean fields like this one in Minnesota rely on fertilizer. Richard Hamilton Smith/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada is getting personal for American farmers.

After trade talks between the two longtime allies fell apart in mid-August 2026, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports worth roughly US$20 billion (CAD$27 billion). Canada responded on Aug. 25, 2026, by announcing its own plan to put retaliatory tariffs of 15% to 50% on the same value of U.S. goods, effective Sept. 8.