Canada's retaliatory tariffs are coming and they could hurt Canadians, too - Action News
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Canada's retaliatory tariffs are coming and they could hurt Canadians, too

Some U.S. goods that Ottawa plans to hit with retaliatory tariffs may not be easily replaced by imports from other countries. That leaves everyday Canadians to foot the bill for the federal governments skirmish with its neighbour.

Planning to buy a washing machine or a boat? Prepare to pay more, retailers warn

Canadians may have some trouble finding cheaper substitutes for U.S.-made lawn mowers, fridges with freezers, and washing machines once they get hit with Ottawa's tariffs. (Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

What do lawn mowers, boats and washing machines have in common?

They may all get more expensive in the coming months as Canada imposes retaliatorytariffs on select U.S.goods. That's because some products the federal governmentplans to target may not be easily replaced by imports from other countries leaving everyday Canadians to foot the bill for the country's battlewith its largest trading partner.

"Those tariffs will directly affect the consumers," said Robert Coffey, owner ofDufresne Furniture in Thunder Bay, Ont. He says some of his store'sU.S.-built appliances could face a price hike of up to10 per cent to make up for the loomingCanadian tariffs.

"That is the fact of a trade war. There's collateral damage on both sides."

According to the federal government's current list, many U.S.-made boats will face a 10 per cent tariff. (Terry Mertz)

After U.S. President Donald Trump imposedtariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum on June 1, the federal government fired back with retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from the U.S., set to take effect July 1.

Canada's list includes not only a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum products, but alsoa 10 per cent surtax on an eclectic mix of more than 120 consumer goods, including dishwashers, fridges, washing machines,pens,beer kegsand even toilet paper. The goods addup to $16.6 billion worth of U.S. imports.

The list is not final, and Ottawa invited the public to comment on it earlier this month.Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freelandannounced on May 31 that the U.S. consumer goods were chosenbecause alternative products could "be easily sourced from Canadian companies or non-U.S. trade partners."

That may be true for many items on the list, such as maple syrup or ketchup, but the Retail Council of Canadawarns that some targeted itemswill be hard to replace. And that means Canadians will simply have to pay more.

"There are certain types of goods where the argument of substitutability doesn't hold true, or at least is exceedingly difficult," said Karl Littler, the council's vice-president of public affairs.

'It's going to hit everybody'

He says even if dealers manage to somehow quickly switch suppliers and source appliances from countries such as China, they will still get hit with an added cost.

"If you're getting it from Asia, many of those goods are themselves subject to tariffs, because we don't have a free trade arrangement," Littler said. "So it's out of the frying pan, into the fire."

At Dave's Appliance in Saint John, at least 80 per cent of the appliances come from the U.S. The store's bookkeeper, Andrew Wilson, said the coming tariffs will likely translate into higher prices for customers.

"I see what they're trying to do," Wilson said of the federal government's retaliation. "I just don't know how effective it will be. It's just something that's going to funnel down and it's going to hit everybody."

The Retail Council of Canada says, depending on their tastes, coffee drinkers could also pay more as a result of the coming tariffs on U.S. goods. (CBC)

Coffee is another item on the hit list where Canadians may wind up paying the price. Although there are non-U.S. alternatives, Littler says not everyone will be willing to break with tradition.

"If you are insistent that you want the Verona blend from Starbucks and you will not accept a substitute, then all that's going to happen is you're going to end up paying more," he said.

Bigger bucks for boats

The boating industry is also warning of higher prices. The National Marine Manufacturers Association says 65 per cent of boats sold in Canada last year came from the U.S., and there aren't enough domestic manufacturers to supply the Canadian market.

"We're wondering how we're going to defend against this," said Terry Mertz, an accountant at Parker Marine, a boat dealerbased in Courtenay, B.C.

He says almost all the boats his company sells come from south of the border, and that the coming tariffs will result in higher retail prices that could scare away customers.

Terry Mertz of Parker Marine in Courtenay, B.C., says the proposed tariffs on U.S. boats will hurt Canadian boat retailers. (Terry Mertz)

"We can't really estimate how bad it's going to be," Mertzsaid. "I just turned 65but I'd still like to work for a few more years, and I hope our business survives this."

The federal government declined to comment on concerns over some targeted U.S. goods. Global Affairs Canada said it's revising the list based on consultations, and will provide an updatesoon.

Some retailers hope the government will announce a shorter list, but appliance dealer RobertCoffey in Thunder Bay says he's ready to take the hit to show the U.S. that Canada won't stand for tariffs on its steel and aluminum.

"Politically, I think it's a necessary evil," he said. "We have to do it."