I’ve been eating vegetables from our garden this summer. The tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, collard greens, beat and brussel sprout leaves, zucchini, onions, strawberries and herbs have been tariff-free.
Canada’s latest round of counter-tariffs on U.S. imports took effect just after midnight Tuesday (Sept. 8), covering $27.6 billion worth of American goods; with the federal government saying they apply to more than 700 product lines.
I’ve been talking to local businesses about what the latest round of tariffs, and counter-tariffs, mean for them. I think I underestimated the impact.
Chatting with Amanda Conn from the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Andria Cowan Molyneaux from ACM Designs, Brandi Hewson from WAI Products and Kohara+Co, and Lorne Heise from Heat-Line, has opened my eyes.
Other businesses were willing to talk, and I’ll get to them in the next little while.
Here’s what I learned. They are being charged more money when they buy things from the States. Their customers in the U.S. are paying more for their products. There is a lot to figure out. Was the product designed, or manufactured, in another country that has a problematic trade relationship with the U.S. that further impacts taxes, duties and fees? Cowan Molyneaux said she’s working on a trade PhD, one in which the course content is always changing.
Because of that instability, it is difficult for customers to know what is going on with the prices of things that they are purchasing from said companies.
As Hewson rightly said, the times are uncertain. So many unknowns. As consumers, we have witnessed the cost of living escalate with no end in sight.
What does this latest round of tariffs and counter-tariffs mean for us? Perusing various articles this week, it’s expected that what we pay for things such as shampoo and conditioner could be among personal-care products that see prices spike. Need a new refrigerator, dishwasher, or freezer? It’s likely the cost of appliances are heading north.
Furniture could hit the pocketbook more, especially if you are moving house, renovating or planning a big spend. Another potential ouch could come from clothing and accessories. The problem remains that most of us are not getting wage increases to match cost-of-living increases.
I worry as these tariffs and counter-tariffs come at a time when Highlands’ businesses are heading into a shoulder season. The heady days – if there were any – of summer are over. They – and we – are beginning to tighten our belts as we see the leaves on the Maple trees start to change colours.
We all feel a little vulnerable. But I am grateful our garden is having a good harvest. That’s fewer vegetables I have to purchase this fall. I am trying my best to buy Canadian, or from countries other than the U.S. I am looking at my spending patterns and being more brutal about what I can live without. I’m looking at my banking habits, including investments, to ensure I am getting the best bang for my buck.
And, I am doing my utmost to support Haliburton County businesses. You should too.
