As a Canadian business owner, I see a massive problem on the horizon — one that’s already creeping up on us faster than most people realize. North America, and Canada in particular, is in serious danger if we don’t start paying attention to what’s happening with overseas suppliers on platforms like Etsy and Amazon. And let me tell you — if we keep turning a blind eye, local businesses like mine, and many others, won’t survive.
Here’s the issue: products from Turkey, China, and other countries are flooding these platforms, often sold directly to consumers with little to no tax applied. You can order blinds, drapery, pillows — you name it — and they arrive straight from overseas at a fraction of the price Canadian businesses can offer. And why is that? Because those international sellers aren’t playing by the same rules.
I recently sent a friend of mine a good customer who manufactures blinds here in Canada, only to find out he ordered from China because it was a fraction of the cost. Did my customer rip him off? Not one bit — in fact it was not only a competitive price but a great price to say the least.
If you don’t believe me just look at the Canadian/American furniture manufactures and ask them how’s business going.
The reason why? The Chinese government does heavily support its manufacturing industry, and that’s one of the big reasons why their products are so much cheaper.
The Canadian government doesn’t help business at all. In fact, they make it harder each year for us to survive without giving us help. On top of that, we not only have to compete with a difficult market but worry when our lease is up because our landlords cant want to charge us more.
Our business must be protected or else we are in for a world of hurt! Where is our government done to protect the very thing that is keeping this economy afloat.
Check out what Chinese government has implement to dominate our market:
In Canada, we’re burdened with import taxes, high tariffs (especially from the US), and the cost of doing business here — from rent to wages to compliance with safety and quality standards. Meanwhile, overseas sellers bypass most of those costs. They can ship directly to the customer without facing the same duties or regulations, and the product lands on your doorstep for a quarter of the price.
But cheap doesn’t always mean better. This is where we have a fight in all this. Canadian made products are better lets face it… But the ironic thing in all this is we are buying the parts from China as well (HAHA)…
And yet, because the prices are so low, people keep taking that risk. That’s bad enough — but the larger implications for our economy and our future are even worse.
If we keep undercutting our own businesses by relying on untaxed, under-regulated imports, we risk hollowing out Canadian manufacturing and supply chains.
We lose jobs. We lose expertise. And when local businesses shut down, the economy takes a hit that affects everyone. Think about it — if Canadian businesses can’t compete, where does that leave us in five or ten years? Vulnerable. Dependent on foreign suppliers. And with far fewer options for local, high-quality products.
I believe in the importance of supporting local businesses and fair trade. It’s not just about my bottom line — it’s about protecting Canadian industries and ensuring a future where we’re not entirely reliant on overseas suppliers who can pull the plug at any moment.
So what can we do? For one, we need to start having real conversations about these tax and tariff imbalances. The Canadian government needs to address the loopholes allowing untaxed goods to flood the market. Consumers also need to realize that every time they choose a cheap imported product over something made or sold locally, they’re contributing to the erosion of our economy.
We also need better protections for businesses here. The tariffs from the US are already a huge burden, and when you combine that with the flood of cheap imports from other countries, Canadian companies are being squeezed from both sides. It’s unsustainable — and something has to change.
As a business owner, I’m asking you — support local whenever you can. Buy Canadian-made products. Choose businesses that create jobs here, pay taxes here, and contribute to the economy here. It’s not just about keeping our businesses afloat — it’s about protecting Canada’s future.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late.
