Small businesses face job losses amid Canada’s new tariffs

Ottawa has imposed a 25 percent tariff on 30 billion dollars worth of American goods to start and will up that to 155 billion dollars in 21 days to allow businesses to find new suppliers if needed.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says one in five small businesses across the country will likely lower the hours of their staff or lay off workers as a response to the tariffs.  The CFIB says many businesses are still recovering from the pandemic, and so few can afford to absorb extra costs from Ottawa’s counter-tariffs or the loss of customers from Washington’s tariffs.