Supply Chain Scanner - Week of March 31, 2025
Weekly blog by Emily Atkins
New resources from the Canadian government are designed to help your business meet the tariff challenge
The Federal Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has posted a page on the Government of Canada website loaded with links and resources for companies trying to navigate the rough waters of our current trading environment. The site can be accessed here.
The page outlines the scope of the problem: “On February 1, 2025, the United States (U.S.) announced tariffs of 10% on imports of energy products from Canada, and 25% on all other imports from Canada effective February 4.
On March 6, the United States announced its decision to delay the imposition of a 25% global tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, and of a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products, until April 2, provided those goods enter the United States tariff-free under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).”
The page suggests a four-pronged approach, including understanding how your business is affected; identifying potential new markets; connecting you with the right contacts to help problem solve; and, finding potential partners and opportunities in new markets.
The first item, understanding how your business is affected might at the moment be the most difficult. As April 2 approaches, it still remains to be seen whether the US administration will apply tariffs across the board or not. Perhaps by the end of this week, there will be more clarity. The good news here is that the TCS promises to keep the info on this landing page up to date with the latest info available.
One of the sub-pages, “Self-serve resources for problem-solving”, offers a wealth of answers to FAQs like What are tariffs? Who pays them? What is Canada’s response? How long will they be in place? And there’s much more.
Under how to prepare, the page recommends: “…if you would like to maintain your exports to the U.S. market and wish to be proactive, you may wish to talk to your brokers and banks and evaluate the need to set up U.S. bank accounts or Customs and Border Patrol accounts. If broad tariffs come into force, U.S. customs brokers might change their current payment requirements for Canadian exporters.” This is similar to the advice offered in the CITT and CH Robinson webinar I wrote about two weeks ago.
Another page outlines the services exporters can access through the TCS. The TCS provides personalized advice to eligible Canadian companies on how to begin exporting on a continuous basis. Whether you're new to exporting, looking to expand in existing markets, or exploring fresh ones, TCS has resources to help. This is the page to visit to get started with their assistance.
The main resource page also points exporters to other government and affiliated sources of assistance. It links to a business benefit finder that helps you find programs and services to help your business startup, scale up, and go global. There’s also a link to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) which provides financing, advisory solutions and capital to small- and medium-sized businesses in all industries and at all stages of growth.
There’s information about the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), which helps companies find markets with foreign governments, and Export Development Canada, which is Canada’s export credit agency.
Another section of the page links to the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s “Weathering the Storm - A Canadian SME Playbook for Navigating US-Canada Tariffs”. This is a downloadable book that the site says is “a concise, actionable guide to navigating this turbulent period. It’s designed specifically for Canadian SME leaders who need immediate, low-cost strategies to mitigate the impact of these tariffs and emerge stronger.”
Split into five modules, the playbook covers:
1. How to protect your cash flow through immediate forecasting, cost control, and working capital optimization.
2. Strategies to adjust your costs, pricing, and explore duty-drawback programs to maintain profitability.
3. Diversify your suppliers and explore alternative sourcing options.
4. Information on implementing lean methodologies and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
5. How to optimize payment terms and Incoterms.
There’s a lot more information available on the main resource page than I have room to highlight here. If you are trying to figure out how to manage through the new trade landscape, take a bit of time and start scrolling. Chances are you will find resources you didn’t know about and answer some of the questions that are keeping you up at night.
Join the conversation on Canada’s Logistics Community forum!
Emily Atkins
President
Emily Atkins Group
Emily Atkins is president of Emily Atkins Group and was editor of Inside Logistics from 2002 to 2024. She has lived and worked around the world as a journalist and writer for hire, with experience in several sectors besides supply chain, including automotive, insurance and waste management. Based in Southern Ontario, when she’s not researching or writing a story she can be found on her bike, in a kayak, singing in the band or at the wheel of her race car. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyatkinsgroup/