At the start of the year, businesses began facing order cancellations due to growing concerns over President Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports. Although the tariffs haven’t taken effect yet, Canadians are already anticipating the potential impact on prices. Vance Lyons, a Canadian resident, expressed frustration, saying, “People that live in Canada now can’t afford to travel anywhere outside Canada because our money is almost useless.” Opinions on the likelihood of the tariffs being implemented vary, with some, like Paul Dutton, believing Trump’s threats won’t come to fruition, while others, like Lyons, view it as foolish.

The tariff uncertainty is already affecting businesses. Rahim Moloo, owner of Conquest Steel in Toronto, explained that his American distributors haven’t been able to receive goods, causing delays and forcing his company to adjust operations. “We’ve had to shut down our night shift and roll them into the day shift temporarily,” Moloo said. Additionally, some Canadian distributors have halted new American orders. While Trump claims that Americans will not feel the impact of the tariffs for long, Giles Gherson, CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, argued that the U.S. benefits greatly from trade with Canada without the need for additional tariffs. Meanwhile, Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have warned that Canada will respond firmly if the tariffs go through.