Latest Canada–U.S. Tariffs Preliminary Assessment & Impact Survey from ECAO

August 26, 2026

With the breakdown in Canada–U.S. trade negotiations, U.S. tariffs and forthcoming Canadian tariff countermeasures may have implications for Ontario’s electrical contracting industry.

At this stage, the full impact remains uncertain. The final Canadian tariff schedule, Harmonized System (HS) classifications, country-of-origin rules, effective dates, exclusions and any remission process have not yet been confirmed.

To help members understand and prepare for potential impacts, ECAO has developed a Preliminary Canada–U.S. Tariff Impact Assessment for Ontario Electrical Contractors. The assessment outlines areas of potential exposure, considerations for contractors and immediate steps members can take to help manage risk while further details become available.

Read the Preliminary Canada–U.S. Tariff Impact Assessment Here

ECAO Need Your Input

At the same time, ECAO is gathering project-level information from members to better understand where tariffs and related trade measures could create real impacts for electrical contractors.

ECAO are asking members to complete a short survey regarding potential impacts on material and equipment costs, procurement, project delivery and other areas of your business. This survey should take only two or three minutes.

Complete the ECAO Tariff Impact Survey

Your responses will help ECAO develop an evidence-based picture of the challenges facing contractors and provide more specific information to governments as we advocate for practical and targeted solutions.

ECAO’s immediate priority is to help member contractors identify and manage genuine exposure while avoiding speculation or unnecessary disruption. We will also advocate for targeted relief where tariffs could impair the timely delivery of essential electrical infrastructure and where equivalent Canadian supply is not reasonably available.

As additional details become available, ECAO will continue working with our industry partners, legal counsel and government-relations advisors to provide members with timely updates and guidance.

Please review the attached assessment and complete the survey to help ensure the electrical contracting industry’s concerns are supported by real project-level evidence.

Statement by ECAO Executive Director, R. Graeme Aitken: Empowering Our Members with Advocacy, Education and Expert Insights.

For almost 80 years, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Ontario (ECAO) has served and represented the interests of Ontario’s industry-leading, unionized electrical contractors. Over those many decades, ECAO has stepped up during times of challenge to support our members in their unfailing delivery of safe, skilled electrical and communications construction and maintenance services to businesses across Ontario.

We are closely following the threat of tariffs on Canadian goods by the United States, and the inevitable Canadian response. We know that this latest challenge to Canada’s contracting industry is causing concern and uncertainty among ECAO’s 550 members who employ over 17,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario.

ECAO will continue to support our members’ success through this latest challenge with expert communication and education, and through advocacy with our government, labour and industry partners. We welcome our members and other interested parties to visit our website’s new ‘Tariff Tracker’ section at www.ecao.org to access articles and updates by industry experts on the potential US-imposed tariffs and their impacts.

Today and every day, ECAO is committed to working to advance the interests of our members and support the success of Ontario’s growing and robust construction industry.

Graeme Aitken, Executive Director, ECAO

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