‘Very difficult’: Calgary jewelry maker set to lose customers amid trade war

Calgary jewelry designer Cindy Baldassi is anticipating a loss of around half of her clientele as the trade dispute between Canada and the United States intensifies. The 50 percent tariff imposed by the U.S. on Canadian exports, which exceed $20 billion, encompasses various gold, silver, and imitation jewelry. Baldassi, whose online store, CindyLouWho2, primarily caters to American customers, noted that 75 percent of her buyers are from the U.S. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, decided to halt trade negotiations on Friday night, deeming the American offer an unacceptable "bad deal."

Canada is now set to match the U.S. tariffs dollar-for-dollar from the following month, targeting sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. Baldassi suspended her sales to the U.S. over the weekend and is actively updating prices on her website, reaching out to American clients to inform them of the cost adjustments.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce estimates that the trade war could impact about 100,000 jobs nationwide. While the opposition has called on Carney for more details on the negotiations, Baldassi remains uncertain about the future, stating that while she feels frustrated, she supports Prime Minister Carney's decision to push back against the U.S. government's tactics.