Calgary business owner sees 'opportunity to show strength' amid tariff-fuelled trade war
'We can find strength in supporting our communities, and you can do that very easily by supporting small business'

As Canadians brace for the arrival of sweeping tariffs on goods moving in both directions across the Canada-U.S. border, a Calgary business owner says the trade fight could offer an upside for some.
Ottawa is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on hundreds of goods originating in the United States — effective Tuesday — after U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his threat of sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods Saturday.
The Trudeau government released a detailed list of retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion in goods Sunday, less than 24 hours after Trump signed executive orders to hit Canada with 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods and a reduced 10 per cent duty for energy.
Harrison Clark, owner of Murphy’s Mid-Century in Inglewood, said the fallout of Trump’s tariffs presents opportunities for businesses producing locally made goods.
“Perhaps now is an opportunity for us to show our strengths,” he said Sunday.
Clark said his furniture store has made it a priority to “sell Canadian to Canadians,” sourcing most of its products within Canada and working with local tradesmen to get products ready for market.
“With a 25 per cent tariff on furniture, we’re likely to see an increase in demand,” Clark said.
The list of Canada’s initial retaliatory tariffs includes furniture, appliances, cosmetics, tires, plastic and wood products, tools and spirits.
Ottawa plans to add another $125 billion in tariffs on many other U.S. goods in three weeks after consulting with industry.
The second list will include items such as cars, trucks, buses, steel and aluminum, aerospace products, and fruits and vegetables.
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Many Canadians weren’t waiting for the government to retaliate, taking to social media to announce they have cancelled subscriptions to U.S. streaming services, pledging not to travel south, and sharing lists and videos of Canadian-made items to help each other avoid buying American brands.
Clark said renewed calls to support local harken back to COVID times, when local businesses were able to fill gaps created by supply chain disruptions and inventory backlogs.
“People would buy a sofa and it would take eight to 12 months to arrive, so we were able to fill that gap,” he explained.
“We can find strength in supporting our communities, and you can do that very easily by supporting small business.”
Politicians promoting buy-Canadian plan
Politicians are pushing the buy-Canadian plan as well.
“Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted Sunday on X. “Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Wherever we can, choose Canada.”
The federal government is also taking steps to ease the effects of the countermeasures on Canadians by launching a process to allow businesses to request exceptional relief from the tariffs.
Premier Danielle Smith, who vowed to work with Ottawa on the federal response while continuing her own diplomatic efforts in the U.S., expressed her disappointment Saturday.
“This decision will harm Canadians and Americans alike and strain the important relationship and alliance between our two nations,” Smith said in a statement Saturday.
“Alberta will do everything in its power to convince the U.S. President and Congress, as well as the American people, to reverse this mutually destructive policy.”
Alcohol a key battleground in trade feud
Alcohol has become a key battleground in the trade feud.
The premiers of both Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed Sunday that U.S. products will be removed from their provincial liquor stores on Tuesday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Sunday morning that he would take aim at the nearly $1 billion worth of U.S. wine, beer, spirits and seltzers sold in the LCBO every year.
British Columbia Premier David Eby made a similar move Saturday, directing the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to immediately stop buying American liquor from “red states,” and to pull existing stock from store shelves.
In Alberta, where alcohol sales are not controlled by the government, a local retailer indicated it was too soon to say how counter-tariffs would impact supplies going forward, as most of his inventory comes through importers that manage alcohol coming into Alberta.
“We’ll obviously sell what we’ve got and we’ll see how the prices are affected in the coming weeks,” said Jerome Pommier, owner of 5 Vines Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits.
The local liquor retailer said he has been watching the tariffs situation close, as U.S. wines and spirits make up 10 to 15 per cent of his inventory across six Calgary locations. He said U.S. imports are mainly Tennessee whiskey, bourbon and California wines.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce president urges buying Canadian, supports for businesses
Analysts have said the policy could wipe off billions of dollars from the Canadian economy, strip many of employment and throw the country into a recession.
“It’s terrifying,” said Calgary Chamber of Commerce president Deborah Yedlin of the feud.
“It’s going to hit a number of businesses,” she added, listing various retailers and Alberta manufacturers among those who will be impacted.
In terms of the impact of counter-tariffs, she said, “You’re going to see small and large businesses being compromised in terms of what they can bring in (and) what they can charge.”
Yedlin had been advocating for efforts to avoid tariffs altogether, but in light of Trump’s announcement, she said, “We do have to respond.
“We have to respond thoughtfully and surgically so that the impact is felt in states where it needs to be felt . . . by consumers who will start to feel the impact of higher costs as they try and look for Canadian goods.”

Yedlin has also called for a unified response from Canadians that emphasizes shopping local.
“This is a seminal time in Canada’s history — and as in all moments like this, we must be united as a country,” she said in a statement. “That means buying Canadian, promoting Canadian businesses, industries and know-how around the world, and providing supports to minimize the impact to affordability for businesses and Canadians.”
Tariff response must be ‘measured and strategic’: Busines Council of Alberta president
The Business Council of Alberta says it is “deeply disappointed” by the U.S. administration’s decision to impose tariffs that it says “will harm businesses, workers, and families on both sides of the border.
“One thing is clear: there are thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of people who will be hurt by this move,” the BCA said in a statement.
BCA president Adam Legge said Canada’s response to the tariffs needs to be “measured and strategic — firm but not extreme.”
“While some level of retaliation is necessary, actions like broad export tariffs or export restrictions would only weaken our long-term competitiveness,” Legge said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Canadian motorcycle industry — gathered in Calgary this weekend for the Calgary Motorcycle and Powersport Show at the BMO Centre — said a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods applied by the U.S. administration and counter-tariffs would “significantly” impact Canada’s motorcycle, ATV and off-road vehicle market.
“We must do everything we can to support the Canadians who work in this industry,” said Landon French, president and CEO of Moto Canada.
“Make no mistake, a tariff war on parts and motorcycles, in particular, would affect Canadian dealerships, hindering their ability to buy, sell, repair and service riders, leading to possible job losses.”

With files from The Canadian Press
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