Stupid. Horrible. Short sighted.
Those are just some of the words being used by Guelph residents and business advocates, reacting to US president Donald Trump’s decision to put 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada. The tariffs take effect Tuesday.
“Trump is just a nut bar,” local resident Kevin Power said Monday morning, reacting to the decision.
“I’ll certainly boycott anything American till this is done.”
“You kind of have to (buy Canadian over American),” added Evan Lewis. “It’s kind of stupid, why they’re doing it.”
Trump argues the tariffs are in place to tackle concerns on security at the border.
“I grew up (at a time where) we were brothers, not enemies,” said Sam Germanese.
“This is horrible. Out of spite, sure (I won’t buy American).”
Ditto said a number of others, who didn't want to be identified in the story due to privacy.
“I believe everybody’s going to start looking at the brands that are Canadian now,” one woman said outside the LCBO on Scottsdale Drive.
“I have seen everything people have been saying (about buying) Canadian products now," said another. "I have taken notice of that, and I will probably shop in that way. I will probably go towards staying away from anything that’s not Canadian-made.”
Mike Von Massow, a food economist and associate professor at the University of Guelph, said we don't truly know what is to come, noting the US paused tariffs on Mexico and planned talks between Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
He said the proof will be in the pudding on whether Canadian consumers change their spending habits in the wake of all this.
"Yesterday when we were grocery shopping, we were spending much more time and attention looking for Canadian product," he said.
"If you look at social media, lots of people are talking about that. It's not as easy as we might think to buy Canadian-only products and so I think consumers need to be careful and decide with their own parameters."
Decisions moving forward will go beyond retail and food. Travel may be impacted as well.
Jackie Marshall, a resident we spoke with in the parking lot at the Metro on Edinburgh Road South, said she is second guessing visiting family in Los Angeles this year.
“I don’t have any urge to go now,” she said. “It’s bad enough that our money isn’t worth much. I don’t want to support their economy at all, although I would fly Air Canada.”
Victoria Tremblay, a local travel agent, said she is recommending not to travel to the US.
“(Trump)’s missing a few sandwiches short of a picnic,” she said.
She predicts this won’t last long, based on past experience with Trump going out and “bullying people, and when he gets called on it, then he backs off.”
“Whether that’s the case (here), we don’t know,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned right now, I recommend that people don’t travel to the states, just in case something happens.”
“I work for a company that lots of services to different businesses, and I know they’re going to struggle, a bunch of them,” said resident Colin Moffat.
“We’re trying to be really conscientious and empathetic for those customers.”
“It is what it is. It’s out of my control, I can’t do too much.”
The LCBO could be a popular place Monday, specifically for American spirits.
Ontario PC leader Doug Ford has ordered the LCBO to pull all American products from the shelves, in response to the tariffs. Products will be off the shelves as of Tuesday morning.
NV Kitchen and Bar in Downtown Guelph is making a similar move, removing all American-made bourbon off its shelves.
"I love my bourbon, but I love Canada more," said NV's co-owner Richard Overland. "Until they come to their senses, we're not supporting them."
Instead, Overland plans to expand the bar's whisky collection, and wants to add from Canada and all parts of the world.
"Our American whisky collection is gone until they lift the tariffs," he said.
A ton of blow back in what seems to be the opening salvo in this latest trade dispute.
It isn't the first time Trump has come after Canada. During his first term in the Oval Office, he imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel imports, and 10 per cent on aluminum.
Guelph Chamber of Commerce president Andy Veilleux says “nobody wins a trade war.”
“The fact that we’re in one is never going to be good,” he said, adding he finds it interesting how unified Canadians have become from it.
Veilleux said there is definitely worry in the local business community, with such an integrated supply chain between Canada and the US and basically having 60 plus years of free trade.
He said retail will be impacted, but he is more worried for the manufacturing and agriculture sectors than anything.
“The average auto part crosses the border about eight times, so it’s kind of tough when we produce a lot of that stuff here locally, that gets put into finished vehicles,” Veilleux said.
He said shopping local and shopping Canadian is something all chambers advocate for, but admits it can get tricky for a business who needs something only manufactured south of the border.
Veilleux said if it’s short, we might be okay. But as these tariffs continue, if it turns into a long-term thing, it might get more difficult.
“Obviously it’s a fairly short sighted economic move,” he said. “If you can find an economist that supports tariffs, they’re probably in the minority.”