Five things now pricier in Canada due to tariffs

The trade war between the US and Canada has escalated sharply with President Donald Trump increasing the tariff rate on Canadian imports from 25% to 35%.

Most goods will avoid the increased costs entering the US market because they are currently exempted under an existing North American trade treaty. But some key products are being hit hard.

Earlier this year Canada responded with counter-tariffs of its own on tens of billions of dollars worth of American products, ranging from tomato ketchup to washing machines.

While it’s too early to determine the full impact, experts say prices are already creeping up on everyday items for Canadians and will continue to rise.

Fridges and washing machines

Canada has imposed counter-tariffs on US-made washers, dryers, refrigerators and HVAC units.

This, coupled with the rise of American sheet-steel prices due to Trump’s 50% tariffs on imported metals, means the sticker price for these items has gone up, said Andreas Schotter, a professor of international business at Western University in Ontario.

For Canadians, this has resulted in the cost of refrigerators and freezers rising by 2% on average. Dishwashing and laundry appliances went up 4.5% in June from the same time last year, according to Statistics Canada.

Andrew Barclay, an analyst with the stats agency, said the percentages are offset by the fact that not all appliances sold in Canada originate from the US.

That means consumers can shop around to avoid paying more.

Prof Schotter said some retailers have been advertising “pre-tariff” sales on dishwashers and heat pumps – “an old hint that ordinary pricing is set to move up”.