Some small indigenous companies are stopping shipments to the United States following the tariff regime of President Donald Trump, despite the fact that there are commercial ties that are prior to the foundation of Canada and the United States.
“There must be a resolution to allow indigenous peoples to continue undergoing the trade routes that have established and practiced, and the treaties that have been signed in the past have suggested that these would be honest,” said Matthew Foss, who serves as vice president of research and public policies in the Canadian Council by indigenous companies.
“It depends on federal governments in Canada and the United States to discover how to honor them.”
Trump announced last month that his government was going to suspend the imports of tax -free minimus from all countries, with the new rules that will enter into force last Friday. The measure is part of the greatest impulse of your government to promote the development of national business.
Purchases that previously entered the US.
Canada small companies can no longer send small packages to the United States free of taxes. The United States has ended the exemption ‘of Minimis’ that allowed Canadian retailers to send products below $ 800 through the border without tariffs. Caroline Sommerfeld, founder and executive director of Ancient Arts Fiber Crafts, tells Hanomansing tonight that tariffs will be “extremely shocking.”
During the next six months, the management orders of the operators sent through the Global Mail network can also choose a fixed service from $ 80 to $ 200 per package instead of the rate based on the value.
Foss said that indigenous handicrafts are exempt from tariffs under the current commercial agreement of Canada-Usexico, but the necessary documentation to ensure that the exemption can be too cumbersome for a small company to handle it. He is pressing the Federal Government to address those administrative charges, but “it does not move quickly.”
‘This is frustrating’
Stevi Riley, who operates the hero with accounts from his home in the first nation of Walpole Island in southwest Ontario, said that about half of his orders come from the United States that he made the decision to stop all sales in that country due to the new import rules, but concerns about the long -term impact in his business to reduce that market.
“I felt discouraged,” Riley said, pointing out the changes that could see a 35 percent increase in the cost of sending through the border.
“If you (the United States) do not want Canadian products to overlook, I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t want things to be destroyed or send back, and I feel that will happen.”
Tribal Spirit Drums and Music, based in Ivry-Sur-Le-Lac, which., Published in the social networks that would stop sales in the United States from August 27 as a result of Minimus changes, as well as Dominique O’Bonsowin, who directs Cedarlilie accounts.
“It definitely means less scope, which is an annoyance because the United States would be a great opportunity for growth,” O’Bonsawin said.
“Not being able to trade freely creates more distance and barriers to rebuild relations with communities in the US. We are related and connected, and this is frustrating.”
The Trump administration says that exemption has become a escape that foreign companies explode to evade tariffs and criminals use to obtain drugs, counterfeit products and other smuggling in the United States.
After years of booming business, indigenous tourism operators say they are seeing a great drop in US reserves, since the political tensions and political tensions of Canada-United States keep US customers away.
Former President Joe Biden and the members of Congress also discussed the issue.
Jack Royal, who works as president and CEO of the corporation of indigenous companies, said in an interview that there is a lot of uncertainty in the American relationship of Canada, and that it is causing instability for indigenous and Canadian companies alike.
“Like other small businesses, what the first nations are looking for is some certainty and seek support on how we can maximize our other options,” he said.
Dozens of countries suspend postal services to us
Twenty -five countries have already suspended postal services to the United States, according to the Universal Postal Union.
“These suspensions will remain in force waiting for more information on how US authorities will operationalize these measures, as well as the real implementation of the required operational changes,” said the UN agency in a press release last week.
Canada Post has not suspended exports, but has informed some business owners who are working to “understand the order, evaluate the options and ensure solutions that will guarantee that we can maintain continuity for your business.”
‘I don’t see anything in the near future’
Foss said that the Canadian Council of Indigenous Companies has regularly participated with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service to work in solutions for cross -border trade with indigenous companies, and is encouraging indigenous leaders to advocate for the restoration of rights.
The assembly of the annual general meeting of the first nations in Winnipeg this week has a series of resolutions for the debate, even in cross -border trade.
A resolution, presented by Chief Roger Redman of Standing Buffalo First Nation in Saskatchewan, is asking the defense agency to help finance a legal opinion on aboriginal rights and the treaty to cross -border trade, and to urge the federal government to include the first nations in all negotiations related to fees and commercial policies.
O’Bonsawin said the United States and Canada have historically had strong trade agreements, and expects things to “return to normal” soon.
“Unfortunately, I don’t see anything in the near future, but I hope that the next US administration will do it better for Canada and the United States”
