Days after President Donald Trump suggested Canada pay the United States for smoke damage caused by wildfires in the region, the Trump administration announced a 50% tariff on Canadian goods.Trump told reporters this on Sunday after speaking with the Canadian prime minister: “If we can help them, we’ll help them, but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs, but it was terrible.”On Monday, the administration said it would target Canadian goods in another round of tariffs, the steepest tax toward the neighboring country since Trump began enacting them.Agribusinesses and consumers across the Upstate said they are preparing to pay more for machinery, essential supplies and groceries coming from across the northern border.Jeff Jones, of Jones and Sons Logging Inc., said his bill for equipment weighs more heavily than it used to. For one Canadian-based machine, his seller told him $10,000 would come directly from tariffs.Jones chops and moves trees for Harold Threlkeld, an Iva family farmer who made a living off cattle and timber for 35 years. He said the industry has fallen into a lull as competition has sharpened and the market has become oversaturated with out-of-country resources.”The profit margins have reduced almost to nothing in the last four or five years. Two truckloads, maybe three. If you look at it, maybe, I might get $100 out all that,” Threlkeld said.Thirty-five percent of existing tariffs go toward softwood lumber. According to the administration, the intention would be to help these homegrown industries.Other farmers worry about retaliation from Canada, creating risk for success in global markets: Competition abroad is favored, profit margins grow slim and production costs increase.The new tariff is set to take effect Aug. 19, 30 days after being signed into law.
IVA, S.C. —
Days after President Donald Trump suggested Canada pay the United States for smoke damage caused by wildfires in the region, the Trump administration announced a 50% tariff on Canadian goods.
Trump told reporters this on Sunday after speaking with the Canadian prime minister: “If we can help them, we’ll help them, but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs, but it was terrible.”
On Monday, the administration said it would target Canadian goods in another round of tariffs, the steepest tax toward the neighboring country since Trump began enacting them.
Agribusinesses and consumers across the Upstate said they are preparing to pay more for machinery, essential supplies and groceries coming from across the northern border.
Jeff Jones, of Jones and Sons Logging Inc., said his bill for equipment weighs more heavily than it used to. For one Canadian-based machine, his seller told him $10,000 would come directly from tariffs.
Jones chops and moves trees for Harold Threlkeld, an Iva family farmer who made a living off cattle and timber for 35 years. He said the industry has fallen into a lull as competition has sharpened and the market has become oversaturated with out-of-country resources.
“The profit margins have reduced almost to nothing in the last four or five years. Two truckloads, maybe three. If you look at it, maybe, I might get $100 out all that,” Threlkeld said.
Thirty-five percent of existing tariffs go toward softwood lumber. According to the administration, the intention would be to help these homegrown industries.
Other farmers worry about retaliation from Canada, creating risk for success in global markets: Competition abroad is favored, profit margins grow slim and production costs increase.
The new tariff is set to take effect Aug. 19, 30 days after being signed into law.