Various sports organizations and businesses are calling on governments from both countries to halt tariffs related to sports, warning that these could lead to greater economic issues and lower participation in healthy activities.
The trade conflict between Canada and the United States has been intensifying for weeks after negotiations for a trade agreement fell apart in mid-August.
The following day, U. S. President Donald Trump enacted 50 percent tariffs on $28 billion worth of Canadian goods, including hockey gear, golf equipment, gym supplies, and fishing rods along with their components.
In response, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on September 8 that also target numerous types of sporting goods such as track suits, ski suits, swimwear, golf gear, and fishing rods.
Aneysha Bhat, a spokesperson for the Washington-based Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), informed The Canadian Press that these tariffs are negatively impacting companies in the sector while reducing public engagement in sports.
“Affordability supports participation; it helps participation grow,” she stated. “Increasing sports and fitness participation helps us build active communities and healthy communities, but these tariffs really impede our ability to do that.”
The SFIA represents over 700 brands involved in sporting goods and fitness including manufacturers, retailers, businesses as well as youth and professional leagues.
Bhat mentions that the organization is pushing both governments to restart trade discussions.
Mark Macaulay from Home Run Sports in Winnipeg shared that Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are significantly affecting his business.
“We deal with bat companies out of Louisiana and Pennsylvania, and basically if we were to bring product across the border right now, our cost on that good is going to be 50 percent higher than what it was prior to Sept. 8,” he explained. “It’s quite a big jump.”
Macaulay added that if these tariffs persist into late fall or winter, they might have no choice but to postpone or cancel shipments.
“The cost of the goods will be so expensive that the retail selling price is going to go up,” he noted. “We as a business aren’t going to eat that cost. It will have to be passed on to the end user.”
Macaulay also mentioned that if tariffs continue at this rate, consumers may need to turn towards brands not affected by these extra charges.Canada’s secretary of state for sport Adam van Koeverden expressed that the federal government wishes for sports equipment not to be impacted by tariffs. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
