Alberta businesses halt U.S. shipments as 50% tariffs take hold
AW & Co, a Calgary home-schooling supplier, stopped shipping across the border after tariffs hit $28 billion in Canadian goods. Counter-tariffs kick in September 8.
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Some Alberta businesses have stopped shipping to the United States after the country imposed 50 per cent tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.
AW & Co, which specializes in home-schooling supplies and toys, halted U.S. orders immediately after the tariff threat became concrete. "It's devastating," said co-owner Will Wickes. The company had already absorbed shipping costs that quadrupled over recent months. With back-to-school and holiday orders flooding in—peak seasons accounting for over 50 per cent of their annual U.S. market—the timing could not be worse.
"We kind of discussed potentially opening up the ability for Americans to order online, but having to pay the fees and the increased shipping rates and they would see the individual lines as to how much it would increase," Wickes said. The math made it impossible to proceed.
Co-owner Alisa Wickes added: "Everyone is starting to order for their back-to-school year as well as Christmas, they want to fill the stockings. It turns out to be probably over 50 per cent of our holiday market."
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce frames the crisis as another reason to remove interprovincial trade barriers and stabilize trade with the U.S. "We would prefer to see a tariff-free deal," said Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO, "however, we do need to respond accordingly because it can't be a one-way street, and we need to do what we can do to protect our economy."
Canada is retaliating. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, effective September 8. The full list of Canadian goods affected by the U.S. tariffs remains incomplete.
Public sentiment leans toward Canada's position: polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows 76 per cent of respondents believe Canada was right to walk away from negotiations, while 62 per cent agree the counter-tariffs Canada plans to levy are "about right," despite fears of rising costs and job losses.
The Wickes said they support the federal response despite the toll on their business. "We support Canada, and we love Canadians. We believe no deal is better than a bad deal and as tough as this is on us, we are still team Canada."
How long will businesses like AW & Co sustain operations with half their holiday revenue erased?
What is the full list of Canadian goods subject to the 50% U.S. tariffs?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
By the numbers
How much in Canadian goods did the U.S. tariff at 50 per cent?
The United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.
When do Canada's counter-tariffs take effect?
Canada's counter-tariffs on U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics become effective on September 8, 2026.
What percentage of AW & Co's annual U.S. market comes from back-to-school and holiday orders?
Back-to-school and holiday orders account for over 50 per cent of AW & Co's annual U.S. market.
What share of Canadians support the counter-tariffs Canada plans to levy?
According to polling from the Angus Reid Institute, 62 per cent of respondents agree Canada's planned counter-tariffs are 'about right'.
