As the clock ticks down for Canada to finalize a trade agreement with the United States, numerous Canadian businesses are feeling the pressure, anticipating a potential loss of up to half of their revenue if the new tariffs are imposed.
The upcoming U.S. tariffs, scheduled to come into effect on Wednesday unless a last-minute deal is reached, would impact an additional $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, including electronics, dairy products, alcohol, and timber, on top of existing trade sanctions.
Negotiations are intensifying as Canadian officials may meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer before Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss the tariff deadline. It is emphasized that the final decision on any deal lies with President Trump.
A significant concern for some Canadian businesses is that the proposed tariffs could not only raise prices for American consumers but also render cross-border shipping economically unviable.
Todd Stafford, the president of Northern Cables based in Brockville, Ontario, revealed that their company heavily relies on U.S. buyers for half of their sales. Northern Cables specializes in manufacturing copper and aluminum power cables for commercial and industrial applications.
Sources indicate that Canadian negotiators are concerned about the imminent U.S. tariffs as Washington insists on provinces lifting bans on U.S. alcohol, a demand provinces are resisting. Canada’s push for more tariff relief on crucial sectors like lumber is also at a standstill.
“We export 50% of our products to the U.S. and have operations in seven U.S. warehouses,” Stafford stated on Monday to CBC News. “With a 50% tariff as announced, we would lose all U.S. business immediately.”
Stafford expressed hope for a resolution before the tariff deadline, stating, “We might see a more reasonable approach, or perhaps an extension of time.”
Despite having 320 employees in Brockville and maintaining a layoff-free record for 26 years, Stafford fears that the tariffs could exacerbate challenges such as slowing condo construction and competition from cheaper Chinese alternatives.
“We may not lose 50% of the workforce, but the impact would be substantial,” he emphasized.
Impact of CUSMA Exclusion
Since the start of his second term in January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted various sectors of Canada’s
