Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border

The order amends the February 1, 2025 executive order that imposed tariffs on Canadian goods by delaying the effective date of those duties from February 4, 2025, to March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. ET. The pause applies to the full 25 percent ad valorem rate on goods generally and the 10 percent rate on energy products. In addition, it withdraws the prior order's exceptions for goods already loaded onto vessels or in transit before the original effective date.

During the pause, the Secretary of Homeland Security — in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Justice and White House national security and homeland security advisers — is directed to continue assessing conditions at the northern border. If the illegal migration and drug crises worsen or Canada fails to take sufficient steps, the order reserves the right to immediately reimpose the tariffs.

U.S. importers of Canadian goods, Canadian exporters, and energy companies trading across the U.S.-Canada border who had been preparing for tariffs effective February 4. Federal agencies responsible for assessing border conditions are also directly directed to act.

Businesses that import Canadian goods or energy gain a roughly one-month reprieve from substantial new tariff costs. The pause is conditional, so trade flows remain uncertain and importers face potential rapid reimposition of duties if the administration determines Canada's response is inadequate by March 4.

DHS leads the assessment of Canada's border-security actions and reports to the President during the pause period. No formal reporting mechanism or deliverable deadline is specified beyond the March 4 cutoff — the trigger for reimposing tariffs is a presidential determination that the crisis has worsened or Canada has failed to act sufficiently. The order includes a standard severability clause, ensuring other provisions survive if one is struck down.