Canada drops digital services tax after U.S. threats of ending trade talks

Canada has rescinded a costly tax that threatened to derail U.S. trade talks over the weekend.

On Friday afternoon, President Trump called off all trade talks with Canada after they held steady on their digital services tax, a Canadian duty levied against U.S. tech companies. The move left Canadian leadership scrambling. But late last night, Canada rescinded the tax, saying it was needed to keep communication flowing.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says talks have resumed. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick thanked Canadian officials just this morning, saying the tax would have been a deal breaker.

Related Stories
Betsy Jibben with Ag Market Consulting takes us behind the scenes on report day with AgMarket.net.
Foreign trade partners, such as China and the European Union, are still purchasing U.S. commodities, but are becoming more cautious as the Trump Administration’s tariff deadline approaches in August.
$15 billion in U.S. energy, $4.5 billion ag products, 50 Boeing jets—plus a 19% tariff on Indonesian exports in exchange for U.S. market access.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Strom of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers joined RFD-TV to provide the latest perspective on post-harvest business planning and cropland markets in the Midwest.
Dalton Henry, with U.S. Wheat Associates, joined RFD-TV to provide insight on what the pending trade frameworks may mean for American wheat growers.
Our friend Jake Charleston at Specialty Risk Insurance joins us for an industry update.
Mary-Thomas Hart, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, discusses the latest WOTUS developments and their implications for agriculture.
Wed, 12/17/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
A massive rail merger could significantly impact North American agriculture and trade flows.