With recent shifts in the economic and trade landscape, the City of Burlington is committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with our local businesses. As news about tariffs develops, we recognize the challenges this could bring to families and businesses in our community. That’s why we’re focused on ensuring Canadian businesses have the support they need to stay strong, competitive, and resilient in the face of uncertainty.
UPDATE - March 13, 2025: Canada has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on all Canadian steel and aluminum products. This is the list of steel products worth $12.6B and aluminum products worth $3B, as well as additional imported U.S. goods worth $14.2B, for a total of $29.8B. The federal government is currently assessing these U.S. tariffs and may impose more counter tariffs. Canada continues to look at the impact of these countermeasures on Canadian workers and businesses, including looking at recently established remission process to consider requests for relief from these new tariffs.
These are in addition to Canada’s 25 per cent counter tariffs on $30 billion of imports from the U.S., in response to U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs put in place on March 4. Unless U.S. IEEPA tariffs and other unjustified U.S. tariff threats are addressed, Canada will apply more counter tariffs on imports from the U.S. on April 2, 2025 following the public comment period. This could be increased if new U.S. tariffs are imposed. Canada will consider all options as they continue to respond to unjustified tariffs on Canada.
Canada's Response to Tariffs
Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada is responding with 25 per cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products later in March. These tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn. Read more in the Statement by the Prime Minister.
Ontario's Response to Tariffs
On March 10, 2025 the Government of Ontario announced a 25 per cent surcharge on energy exported to the US . This surcharge was suspended the next day amid discussions with US officials. Please visit the Ontario government website for up-to-date information about its response to US tariffs. In recent weeks Premier Ford has suggested consumers, retailers and municipalities source goods from Ontario and elsewhere in Canada if they can’t be found in the province.
What You Can Do
Buying products made in Canada is an important way to support Canadian entrepreneurs, Canadian workers, and members of your local community.
When shopping, check products for "Made in Canada" or "Produced in Canada" labels and consider buying them instead of other available products.
NEW: Canadians have designed a number of apps to help consumers find Canadian-made products.
Find them on the Apple or Android App Store:
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Shop Canadian: A quick way to get product information by scanning barcodes
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Buy Beaver: Rates how Canadian a product is based on where it's made, ingredients, and brand ownership
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Maple Scan: Analyzes photos of products to determine if they meet government criteria for being labeled "made in Canada"
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O SCANada: Helps Canadians buy Canadian products
NOTE - links and/or app references are not operated by or affiliated with the City of Burlington in any way and that any use of or reliance on the information contained on those sites/from those apps is the responsibility of the user
You can also choose to support your local businesses, producers, and farmers instead of larger shops.
Find out more about how to check for country of origin on food labels.
How to Support Canadian Products and Retailers |
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By being an informed shopper, you help strengthen Canada’s economy and support local jobs. Tips courtesy of Marvin Ryder, Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. |
Be an informed shopper |
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Not all products with Canadian symbols are truly Canadian. Understand the difference:
See the Government of Canada's page on Made in Canada vs. Product of Canada. |
Don't be misled by symbols |
| A maple leaf or Canadian flag on the packaging doesn’t always guarantee the product is Canadian. Always check the label for details on where it was made and where the ingredients come from. |
Double-check when shopping online |
| When buying products online, take an extra moment to research the product’s origin. Look at the company’s website and confirm where the product is made and where its materials are sourced. |
Pay with cash when possible |
| Did you know that when you pay with a credit card, stores pay a 2-3% fee to credit card companies? Paying with cash allows more of your money to stay with the retailer and support local businesses. |
Check Canadian retailers carefully |
| Just because you’re shopping at a Canadian retailer doesn’t mean everything on the shelf is Canadian-made. Read labels and ask questions to make sure you’re supporting Canadian products. |
What Other Labels Should I Look for?
The federal guidelines for food labelling also allow the following to indicate that an item is a product of Canada or is made in Canada.
Label variations may include:
- “Roasted and blended in Canada” to describe coffee since the coffee beans are always imported.
- “Distilled in Canada” to describe bottled water that was distilled in Canada.
- “Canned in Canada” to describe green beans that were canned in Canada.
- “Refined in Canada” to describe imported cane sugar which has been refined in Canada.
- “Processed in Canada” to describe a food which has been entirely processed in Canada.
- “Prepared in Canada” to describe a food which has been entirely prepared in Canada.
- “Packaged in Canada” to describe a food which is imported in bulk and packaged in Canada.
The Impact of Spending Locally
Buying locally helps the Canadian economy by keeping more money circulating within a community, which leads to increased employment opportunities, supports local businesses, and contributes to the overall economic vitality of the region, as local businesses tend to reinvest profits back into the community by hiring local staff and purchasing goods from other local businesses.
Key points about buying locally and its impact on the Canadian economy: |
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Learn More About the Impacts of Buying Local |
How We Are Responding
The City of Burlington will follow the lead set by the Federal and Provincial governments and be a municipal leader in prioritizing Canadian vendors and suppliers, where possible. The City is preparing to stand up for Canadian businesses.
City of Burlington's Response |
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Feb. 6, The Mayoral Direction issues the following directions to staff:
Jan. 31, City Council passed a Buy Canadian Resolution:
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Government of Canada Response |
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The Government of Canada has a comprehensive plan to fight back against the unjustified U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods while supporting Canada's interests, industries, and workers. You can view the full response from the Government of Canada. |
Buy Canadian Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Tariff? |
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Tariffs are taxes on products that come from other countries. Just like you pay sales tax when you buy something, a tariff is an extra cost added to goods that are imported into Canada. For example, if you’re buying a product from another country, you might have to pay a tariff. If you’re a business in Burlington selling products to other countries, your customers there may have to pay tariffs on what they buy from you. Tariffs 101: What are tariffs and how do they impact international trade? |
What’s the Impact of Tariffs? |
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If you’re a business in Burlington selling products to other countries, tariffs can make your goods more expensive for your international customers. This could mean they buy less, look for cheaper alternatives, or pass on the extra cost to their own customers. On the other hand, if you’re importing goods into Canada, tariffs could raise your costs, which might lead to higher prices for local consumers. This is why understanding tariffs is important—they can impact both businesses and families through changes in prices and demand. |
How Do Tariffs Work and Why Are They Used? |
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Governments use tariffs for different reasons, often depending on economic or political goals:
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Who Pays for Tariffs? |
| Typically, it’s the buyers who pay for tariffs. When businesses import goods, they are responsible for paying the tariff and often pass those costs on to consumers by raising prices. It’s important to note that tariffs aren’t payments from one government to another. Instead, they are collected by the government imposing them, much like a tax on imported goods. |
Why Is It Important to Understand Tariffs? |
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Knowing how tariffs work is important because they can affect more than just prices—they influence business decisions, supply chains, and even what products are available. If tariffs make goods more expensive, businesses might need to find new suppliers, adjust their prices, or rethink where they sell their products. For businesses in Burlington, staying informed about tariffs can help them plan ahead, remain competitive, and avoid unexpected costs. The City of Burlington is committed to supporting local businesses as they adapt to any changes that may affect them. Burlington community members have buying power – By supporting Canadian-made goods, we help protect local jobs, keep money circulating within our community, and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Understanding tariffs is key to making informed choices that benefit both residents and the broader Burlington economy. |
Generating Revenue:
Protecting Local Businesses:
As a Diplomatic or Trade Tool:
