This week, a look at the rising tensions between the U.S. and Canada, and the Canadian brands trying to tune them out as they pursue the American market. Over the last year, the historically cozy relationship between the U.S. and Canada has turned frosty.
The Trump administration’s tariffs and bellicose rhetoric have damaged diplomatic relations between the countries, leading to lower tourism from Canada and business leaders canceling trips to the U.S. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated this week that Canada should begin looking to other countries to form trade relationships.
For many Canadian fashion brands, the turmoil comes at an inopportune time. Many of them are looking to expand into the U.S. as tariffs on Canadian goods recently came down to 10% from a high of 50%. Glossy spoke with several Canada-based brand leaders in the midst of U.S. market expansions about the challenges they’ve faced.
So far, the vast majority of issues have been caused by tariffs. Jack Victor, a century-old manufacturer of tailored menswear based in Montreal, is expanding its U.S. presence by opening a new office and showroom in Manhattan, with plans to open retail stores in the U.S. soon.
As part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) — the successor trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to NAFTA — Jack Victor can still ship most of its Canadian-made goods into the U.S. duty-free.
