--- title: "US tariffs hit Canadian small businesses" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-tariffs-hit-canadian-small-businesses" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-tariffs-hit-canadian-small-businesses" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/us-tariffs-hit-canadian-small-businesses.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-tariffs-hit-canadian-small-businesses" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-24T21:05:13.032Z" source_reported: "2026-08-24T20:26:05.000Z" updated: "2026-08-24T22:01:02.632Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-24T22:01:02.336123+00:00" --- # US tariffs hit Canadian small businesses *New tariffs imposed by the US are causing order cancellations and business uncertainty for Canadian sellers.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named individuals and businesses, with one full report. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Quotes affected individuals and responsible bodies, and separates fact from comment. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or clickbait. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US President Donald Trump imposed new 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian products. - Canadian small businesses report immediate order cancellations and are considering pausing shipments to the US. - Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada will match US tariffs dollar-for-dollar starting next month. - The new tariffs are affecting a range of goods, including textiles, jewelry, toiletries, steel, dairy, and electronics. New tariffs imposed by the United States over the weekend have begun to affect Canadian small businesses. Bernard Hellen, owner of Miniprints, reported approximately 50 order cancellations for 3D miniature models destined for American clients since the tariffs took effect. For Hellen, whose business relies on American customers for 85 per cent of its sales, the 50 per cent tariff is a significant barrier. He has requested reciprocal tariffs on US hobby imports and COVID-style support for small businesses. Other business owners are also facing disruption. David Irvine, owner of The Gnarled Branch on Etsy, has stopped deliveries to the US, which represent 85 per cent of his business, and is seeking Canadian markets. Samantha Sinclair of S & K Collective is contemplating pausing shipments to the US, a market that accounts for 60 to 70 per cent of her sales. Jewelry maker Cindy Baldassi anticipates losing about half her customers, 75 per cent of whom are American, and is adjusting her prices. In response to the US tariffs, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Ottawa will match Washington's tariffs dollar-for-dollar beginning next month. These retaliatory measures will target sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. Carney confirmed that Canada was in a trade war with the US, calling the situation "obvious." ## Disagreement on tariff details Reports differ on the exact value of goods affected by the US tariffs. The Canadian Press report states the tariffs apply to "billions of dollars worth of Canadian products." However, the digests from Rocky Mountain Outlook, Elora Fergus Today, Sudbury, SooToday.com, and northeastNOW do not specify a monetary value for the goods impacted by the US tariffs. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mention the specific sectors targeted by the US tariffs, such as textiles, jewelry, or toiletries. The full report from Narcity mentions these categories, but the digests do not. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 75% (12) - Centre: 25% (4) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-24T22:01:02.336123+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-24T22:45:20.882Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated outlets reported that new US tariffs have led to order cancellations for small businesses. Bernard Hellen, a maker of 3D miniature models, has been fielding cancellations from American clients since the tariffs took effect. This was reported by nine of the outlets. - The Toronto Star reported that jewelry maker Cindy Baldassi expects to lose about half her customers due to the trade dispute. This outlet was the only one to mention Baldassi by name. - All twelve left-rated digests mentioned that the tariffs were implemented over the weekend. No specific figures on the total economic impact were included in these reports. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports led with the impact of the US tariffs on small businesses, specifically mentioning Bernard Hellen's order cancellations. They also included details about other affected business owners, such as David Irvine, Samantha Sinclair, and Cindy Baldassi, and their concerns about losing customers and sales. Both Narcity and northeastNOW reported on Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement that Canada would match US tariffs dollar-for-dollar and his confirmation of a trade war. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 11 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [CambridgeToday.ca](https://cambridgetoday.ca/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [haltonhillstoday.ca](https://haltonhillstoday.ca/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Western Investor](https://westerninvestor.com/national-business/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698009) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12697998) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Barrie Today](https://barrietoday.com/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/24/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [Bradford Today](https://bradfordtoday.ca/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of tariff war, as many lose sales - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/small-businesses-at-front-lines-of-the-tariff-war-as-many-lose-sales-12698016) — Small businesses at front lines of the tariff war, as many lose sales - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/calgary-jewelry-maker-affected-by-u-s-tariffs) — Small businesses at front lines of the tariff war, as many lose sales - [northeastNOW | Melfort, Saskatchewan | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Classi…](https://northeastnow.com/2026/08/24/very-difficult-calgary-jewelry-maker-set-to-lose-customers-amid-trade-war) — Small businesses at front lines of the tariff war, as many lose sales - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/business/very-difficult-calgary-jewelry-maker-set-to-lose-customers-amid-trade-war/article_9fc44e54-4b87-5f53-b511-eaf3f2b6d50e.html) — Small businesses at front lines of the tariff war, as many lose sales - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/08/24/very-difficult-calgary-jewelry-maker-set-to-lose-customers-amid-trade-war) — Small businesses at front lines of the tariff war, as many lose sales ## Questions **What caused Canadian businesses to receive order cancellations?** Canadian businesses have received order cancellations from American clients following the imposition of new 50 per cent tariffs by the US. These tariffs affect billions of dollars worth of Canadian products, making them more expensive for US consumers and leading to a significant drop in orders. **What is Canada's response to the US tariffs?** Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will match the US tariffs dollar-for-dollar, beginning next month. These retaliatory measures will target sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. **Which Canadian businesses are most affected by the tariffs?** Small businesses are at the forefront of the tariff war. Examples include Miniprints, which sells 3D miniature models, The Gnarled Branch on Etsy, which sells artwork, S & K Collective, an Indigenous clothing company, and jewelry makers like Cindy Baldassi, many of whom rely heavily on American customers. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/us-tariffs-hit-canadian-small-businesses. 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