Stay informed on the latest developments with tariffs and access resources to support your business
The ongoing tariff situation is rapidly changing and deeply impacting businesses across size and sector. We have compiled a list of the latest developments, what we are advocating for at all levels of government and the supports that are available to you.
Our advocacy relies on input from our members. We are always eager to hear from you – whether to share your experience, provide input on our recommendations to government, or to let us know how we can serve you during this time of uncertainty and rising costs.
Tariff Tracker:
The Canadian government has imposed retaliatory tariffs on specific products to make American goods more expensive in Canada, negatively impacting U.S. companies and ultimately, consumers. While necessary from a diplomacy perspective, this increases the cost of many goods sold in Canada by 25%. Where there are substitutes, Canadians can switch to those to avoid paying higher prices, however where there are no alternatives, Canadians will be forced to pay 25% more – despite the fact the intrinsic value of what is being purchased hasn’t increased.
The Alberta government will be modifying procurement practices for government agencies to prioritize Albertan and Canadian options.
Additionally, the AGLC has been directed to immediately cease the purchase of American liquor products and VLTs.
Grocery and other retailers will be assisted with labelling Canadian products and will be asked to voluntarily purchase their stock from Albertan and Canadian businesses.
Lastly, to address interprovincial trade barriers, the Government of Alberta has indicated it will enter free trade and mobility agreements with any other willing Canadian provinces and territories.
The City of Calgary has indicated they will develop a tariff tracker to understand the impacts on Calgary, adjust their procurement policy, and create a webpage that helps businesses understand available substitutes for their goods.
On March 31, the city announced specific changes to its procurement policy. Changes include
Markets have responded as expected – dropping significantly on Tuesday before recovering modestly on Wednesday, following announcement of the auto tariff reprieve.
We’re working closely with all levels of government to develop immediate and longer-term plans, working to mitigate risk in the immediate term and make good use of a crisis in the long term.
As an immediate response, we recommend governments:
Longer term, we encourage governments to:
To better understand the anticipated impact on Calgary businesses, the Calgary Chamber launched a survey to our membership in early March. We asked how businesses believe they may be impacted by tariffs, what information they might need to navigate the everchanging trade landscape, and what policy solutions our membership would like Canadian governments to prioritize.
Encouraging support for businesses that contribute to the Canadian economy and community during these uncertain times.
We have compiled a short list of resources available to you to navigate the ongoing impacts and uncertainty of tariffs. Please note that this list is not comprehensive. For more resources, visit Startup Canada’s Tariff Toolkit.