Tariff FAQ
Manufacturer Tariff Updates
Stay up to date with the latest tariff communications directly from our manufacturing partners.
Tariff FAQs
Is Bartle & Gibson a Canadian Company
We are a privately owned, 100% Canadian organization that our customers, suppliers, and employees have come to trust for 81 years.
What is a tariff and who pays it?
A tariff is a tax on products coming from another country. This restricts trade and limits the free flow of goods between countries. A tariff is set by an importing country as a percentage of the import’s value.
Domestic companies that import products into the country must pay a tariff upfront. For example, U.S. companies must pay the recently announced tariffs on Canadian products that they import into the United States. Similarly, Canadian companies must pay Canadian tariff amounts that our country has placed on U.S. imports, in response to the recent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. These extra charges are often passed onto consumers.
How are these tariffs applied?
Most vendors are the importer of record for the products coming into Canada. In these instances, they are handling the tariffs via price increases. They do not always pass on the full 25% tariff. This can be due to the tariff only applying to a component of the finished good or the vendor deciding to take on some extra cost to remain competitive in the Canadian market. Other vendors may utilize a surcharge. In some cases we are the importer of record. In these instances we remit the full tariff amount of the tariff to the Canadian government.
How long are these tariffs expected to last?
The duration of the tariffs is uncertain and depends on the ongoing relations between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other trading partners. Governments are at various stages of discussions, but currently there is no definitive timeline established to permanently remove the recent tariffs.
Where can I find more information and updates on this situation?
For the latest information, please visit our FAQs often.
What are the U.S. tariffs on canadian goods?
| U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Goods | Amount | Announced | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tariffs on steel and aluminum products exported from Canada into the U.S. | 25%
Cumulative 50% on steel; 35% on aluminum |
March 11, 2025 | Active – effective March 12, 2025 |
| Tariffs on all goods exported from Canada into the U.S. | 25% Goods non-compliant with USMCA;
10% Energy and potash non-compliant with USMCA |
March 4, 2025 | Active |
What are the Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods?
| Canadian Tariffs on U.S. Goods | Amount | Announced | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 2 counter tariffs on $125 billion of goods and services | 25% | March 4, 2025 | On hold – consultation period conducted March 4 to April 2, 2025 |
| Counter tariffs on $29.8 billion in steel, aluminum and other products imported from the U.S. into Canada | 25% | March 12, 2025 | Active – effective March 13, 2025. List of goods subject to tariffs here. In place until the U.S. eliminates its tariffs against Canadian steel and aluminum products |
| Phase 1 counter tariffs on $30 billion in products imported from the U.S. into Canada | 25% | March 4, 2025 | Active – effective March 4, 2025. List of goods subject to tariffs here. In place until the U.S. eliminates its tariffs against Canadian products |