If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, social media, or honestly, just been awake lately, you've probably heard that the U.S. is imposing new tariffs on Canadian goods. Every business and individual will be affected differently but let’s talk about how this is going to affect Urthstyle.
What Are Tariffs, and Why Do They Matter?
In simple terms, tariffs are extra taxes placed on imported goods. When the U.S. puts tariffs on Canadian products, it will make them more expensive for American businesses and consumers to buy. Theoretically, something like this would be meant to encourage more production within the U.S., but realistically, without proper planning and infrastructure to support the change, it can lead to complications within the supply chains and drive up prices on both sides of the border.
How Will Tariffs Our Shop?
Urthstyle ships exclusively within Canada, meaning we will not directly face export tariffs. However, the trickle down effect could still mean changes in costs, supply chain shifts, and industry challenges.
One example of where the trickle down effect may come into play, is while the clothing we bring in is proudly manufactured in Canada, the fabrics that go into these garments are rarely grown and processed here. Bamboo will typically come from places like China, India, and Southeast Asia, linen may come from areas such as Europe and China, and cotton is often from places like India, Pakistan, and the United States. The fabrics coming from areas outside of the U.S. hopefully won't be impacted, however, we could see the cost of U.S. cotton increasing if the farms and factories chose to raise their prices to cover additional costs they may incur due to the tariffs, and the farm labour shortage. This would lead to higher costs for the Canadian manufacturer, which would lead to a higher cost to us as well.
Why Supporting Canadian-Made Matters
Choosing Canadian-made has always and will always matter.
Made in Canada is not a trend, it’s about creating and keeping local jobs, maintaining local expertise and keeping ethical manufacturing alive.
When you buy Canadian-made, you’re investing in:
LOCAL JOBS - Canadian manufacturing supports workers in fair-wage environments.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES - Shorter supply chains mean a smaller carbon footprint.
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE - The more we support Canadian businesses, the less we rely on outside forces that can shift overnight (like, say, tariffs!).
What’s Next?
We will continue to do our best to maintain transparency and update you along the way, but one thing’s for sure, Urthstyle remains committed to offering quality, ethical Canadian-made clothing. Supporting local brands is the best way to work through this economic shift, and we’re so grateful for our community that values sustainability, ethical production, and thoughtful shopping.
What are your thoughts on tariffs and Canadian-made goods? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!