Late in August of last year, Julia Hallman and her spouse embarked on a road trip from their residence in Massachusetts to visit one of their Canadian suppliers at Fromagerie La Station in Quebec. Hallman observed the grazing cows at the farm in Compton, knowing they would contribute the milk for one of her shop’s popular cheeses, Alfred le Fermier. She remains committed to buying this cheese for her shop not only due to customer demand but also because she considers the family behind it as friends.
Hallman, the owner of Formaggio Kitchen, a specialty cheese and artisan goods store in Cambridge, expressed her desire to support her Canadian suppliers financially. She is among numerous business owners in both Canada and the United States awaiting news on whether the Trump administration will impose significant new tariffs on a variety of Canadian products. If sustained at 50 percent, these tariffs would compel businesses to sever ties with Canadian suppliers, jeopardizing longstanding relationships.
Imported goods, including cheeses, chocolates, spices, and spreads, make up about half of Formaggio Kitchen’s inventory, with Canadian products constituting around 15 percent of these items. While Hallman has previously managed tariffs on Canadian dairy by sacrificing profits or raising prices, a 50 percent tariff rate would become unsustainable over time.
Similarly, Sarah Paxton, co-owner of a contemporary furniture store called LaDIFF in Richmond, Virginia, expressed concerns about potentially moving away from her long-standing suppliers in Ontario and Quebec due to the looming tariffs. The latest round of U.S. tariffs is expected to impact $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, posing challenges for entrepreneurs on both sides of the border.
Representatives from Canada and the U.S. engaged in discussions before the tariff deadline, with Canadian negotiators expressing concerns about the impact of new tariffs on Canadian businesses. Despite the uncertainties, Hallman remains defiant, stocking her shop with goods before the deadline as a proactive measure. She emphasized the emotional and financial toll of tariffs, highlighting the importance of maintaining relationships with beloved Canadian products despite the challenges posed by the tariffs.
