Collateral Damage: How Tariff Policy Is Gutting America’s Outdoor Gear Innovators

I thought that I would pass on recent customer transaction information; not taking a stance either way, just the reality of what some Canadians are experiencing.

A customer recently purchased a product from us for $34.95 USD.  Shipping to Canada is ~$18 USD (First Clas Mail).  When I was purchasing the shipping label through Shipstation, it gave me the option of paying for the Tariff or having the customer pay; I opted for the customer to pay.  The fee was $9.95 USD.  The current exchange rate with Canida is $1.00 USD to $1.36 CAD.  Total bill was $85.50 CAD.  I doubt that I will be getting many more Canadian Orders.  Just the facts.

I recently went to buy a $5 US item from a US cottage company and IIRC, shipping was ~ $70.

Crazy shipping costs to Canada from backpacking cottage companies has been a thing for years, and I rarely buy anything from stateside unless its from Amazon.com that somehow seems to avoid the worst of this.    Its a bargoon if shipping from the US is <3 or 4x price of the goods for smaller items.  Tariffs are just the latest cherry on top.

The top voted threads on UltralightCanada are usually where to buy something at a reasonable price.  Stuff be expensive up here.

As long as we’re talking “facts”, here are two interesting sites:

Canada tariff  timeline: https://www.blakes.com/insights/us-canada-tariffs-timeline-of-key-dates-and-documents/

Canada tariff finder: https://www.tariffinder.ca/en/search/export/US/tent/6306221000. I modeled a synthetic backpacking tent and it came back 25% tariff if a US product is sold into Canada

As for shipping costs, these have always been outrageous (ask Dan Durston – he’s probably the most informed)

When I was in business we sold into Canada (about $25M annually) and got zonked with 25% tariffs as the norm. Plus, the exchange rate made selling into Canada very challenging. I got checked at the border many times as they were cracking down in tax-avoiding labor. Having a legal entity in Canada didn’t seem to make a difference.

Long story short: international trade has always been a challenge. I would be very cautious predicting an outcome on the recent situation – it’s all negotiation.

US shipping to Canada used to be less expensive but in some quarters got notably worse after the pandemic, well before the tariffs.  I don’t know why.  It feels like some would rather not have Canadian customers so tagged on ridiculous shipping costs.

Fun fact, Gossamer Gear wants 56US to ship this $9 umbrella holder to Canada:

https://www.gossamergear.com/en-ca/products/handsfree-umbrella-clamp

Zpacks wants 45US to ship this $6 umbrella holder:

https://zpacks.com/products/umbrella-holster

CMT wants 43US to ship this 15 buck pole lower.  It’s cheaper to just buy a complete new pair off Amazon Canada (which is what I did when I snapped one):

https://cascademountaintech.com/collections/trekking-pole-replacement/products/3k-carbon-fiber-quick-lock-pole-lower-section-replacement

I could go on and on, but thems the facts.

Its greatly complicates transactions that are much simpler State side.