‘It’s devastating’: Some Alberta businesses stop shipping stateside following tariffs
Posted August 24, 2026 8:18 am.
Some Alberta businesses have now stopped shipping to the United States after the country slapped 50 per cent tariffs on about $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.
“It’s devastating,” said Will Wickes, co-owner of AW & Co, which specializes in home schooling supplies and toys.
Wickes says the company stopped shipping to the U.S. right after the threat of the 50 per cent tariffs became known as orders have about a two-week turnaround.
“With the levies now here, the timing couldn’t be worse,” he added.
AW & Co co-owner Alisa Wickes tells CityNews, “everyone is starting to order for their back-to-school year as well as Christmas, they want to fill the stockings. It turns out to be probably over 50 per cent of our holiday market.”
The Calgary-based company has already been absorbing shipping costs that have quadrupled over the last couple of months but say this latest round of tariffs is simply too much to stomach.
“We kind of discussed potentially opening up the ability for Americans to order online, but having to pay the fees and the increased shipping rates and they would see the individual lines as to how much it would increase,” said Will Wickes.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Chamber Commerce says this is yet another example of why its important for interprovincial trade barriers to be removed as businesses navigate trade instability with the U.S.
“We would prefer to see a tariff-free deal,” said Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO, “however, we do need to respond accordingly because it can’t be a one-way street, and we need to do what we can do to protect our economy.”
It’s a sentiment that seems to be shared by Canadians with new polling from the Angus Reid Institute.
The survey shows 76 per cent of respondents believe the country was right to walk away from negotiations, while 62 per cent agree counter-tariffs Canada plans to levy against the U.S. are “about right,” despite fears of rising costs and job losses due to the trade war.
“Maybe this changes in a couple of months once Canadians experience some of the penitential economic downsides from these new tariffs and from our counter-tariffs as well, but for now it seems even as Canadians are worried about it, (and) they have given a lot of leash to Mark Carney to fight back,” Angus Reid senior research associate Jon Roe said.
The Wickes say despite the toll it’s taking, they are willing to give leeway as well.
“We support Canada, (and) we love Canadians. We believe no deal is better than a bad deal and as tough as this is on us, we are still team Canada.”
