Canada to hit U.S. with retaliatory tariffs. And, remembering music legend Dolly Parton

Canada to hit U.S. with retaliatory tariffs; Dolly Parton remembered

Canada announced on Friday that it will impose a series of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that mirror the tariffs the United States has levied on Canadian products. The Canadian government said it will apply duty rates of 15 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent to a broad range of imports beginning on September 8. The tariffs will target steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics, affecting nearly $20 billion of annual U.S. imports. Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne said the counter‑tariffs would be imposed “dollar for dollar” against the United States, a move that could be the largest trade retaliation effort in U.S. history.

The announcement follows a series of disputes over trade and immigration policy. Earlier in the week, a source familiar with a Trump administration plan said the U.S. would cancel 200,000 immigration visas nationwide. The State Department has said it is identifying and revoking visas held by individuals who entered the country as short‑term visitors and later filed for asylum. The revocation process is expected to proceed on a rolling basis rather than all at once.

Amid the trade tensions, the United States also mourned the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, who was 80. The singer’s death was confirmed by her nephew and representatives in a video posted on social media. Parton’s career included dozens of top‑10 country hits, such as “9 to 5” and “Jolene.” She also founded the theme park Dollywood and launched a number of other ventures, including theatrical productions, apparel lines and baking mixes. Parton was known for her philanthropic work, most notably the Imagination Library, which sends a book a month to children from birth to age five. The U.S. flag was lowered to half‑staff in her honor for a week.

The Trump administration has claimed that more than 250,000 noncitizens appear on voter rolls in Nevada and three other states. However, the Department of Homeland Security later clarified that the initial figure was an estimate and that further review was required. In a meeting with Nevada officials, the agency provided a list of 185 voter ID numbers that were confirmed to be nonvoters, and noted that more than 14,000 voters still required additional verification.

In the Southwest, record‑breaking temperatures are affecting millions of Americans. The National Climate Center has documented extreme heat across the South‑Central United States, and climate experts note the role of climate change in amplifying such events. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced a policy shift that would no longer require states to provide community‑based care for people with disabilities, a move that has drawn criticism from disability rights advocates. The policy change challenges the “integration mandate,” a legal principle that supports Medicaid‑funded programs for disabled adults in their own homes and communities.

In other news, a woman in Houston walked through the heat on July 30, 2026, as part of a broader heat wave affecting the region. Meanwhile, a young disability rights activist, Kaleigh Brendle, has begun a new organization to counter the administration’s challenge to the integration mandate. Brendle, who is blind, has spoken about the importance of community programs for people with disabilities, citing her brother’s experience in a Medicaid‑funded community program that has helped him gain independence and social connections.

The Canadian tariffs are expected to be enforced on September 8, with the government indicating that the duties will be applied uniformly across the targeted product categories. U.S. trade officials have warned that the tariffs could trigger a broader trade dispute and urged Canadian leaders to seek a resolution. The Canadian government has said it is open to negotiations but will defend its trade interests aggressively.

In sum, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods are set to take effect in early September, while the United States grapples with trade tensions, immigration policy changes, and the loss of a cultural icon. The country’s political and economic landscape is shifting as lawmakers and the public respond to both domestic policy moves and international trade disputes.