The latest escalation in the Canada-U.S. trade war is raising concerns among Windsor businesses well beyond the auto sector. Local business owners say they are already dealing with higher costs and uncertainty, while worrying that additional tariffs could eventually be passed on to consumers. Jimmy Pugliese, owner of La Stella grocery store on Erie Street, said customers are increasingly looking for Canadian-made products as the trade dispute continues. “A lot of my customers, they want to buy Canadian-made products,” Pugliese said. “They don’t want to buy American. They just want to support us.” Pugliese said higher costs are already adding up for his business, including transportation. “The biggest thing now is freight,” he said. “We’re paying a lot of money in freight.” He said shipping one pallet from Montreal now costs about $450, compared with previously receiving it at no charge. Pugliese said he is concerned the latest tariff measures could put additional pressure on families already struggling with the cost of living. At Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing Ltd., where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre toured the facility Monday, the impact of tariffs extends beyond the automotive industry. Chris Vander Park, the company’s international business manager, said about 15 per cent of Cavalier’s business is automotive, with the company also producing tooling for products such as washing machines, dishwashers and household storage products. “Anything that is steel derivative is tariffed, not just automotive,” Vander Park said. The uncertainty is making it difficult for the company to plan, he said. “Very, very difficult for us to do business,” Vander Park explained. “The difficult part is I don’t know what tomorrow looks like.” Despite that uncertainty, Vander Park said the company is counting on the federal government to negotiate a deal that protects Canadian businesses. “We have to have faith that our government has our best interests in mind and is going to negotiate a good deal,” he said. The Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce says it is also focused on helping the region navigate the escalating trade tensions. Chamber president and CEO Ryan Donally said in post to social media that the organization will focus on advocacy, collaboration and identifying opportunities to strengthen the region’s long-term competitiveness and resilience. The Chamber has previously worked with Invest WindsorEssex on a regional economic trade task force aimed at helping local businesses navigate the trade dispute. “As trade tensions continue to escalate, the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce will remain focused on advancing regional prosperity through strong advocacy, informed leadership, and meaningful collaboration,” Donnaly said. At Blak’s Bakery, owner Valarie Blak said tariffs could increase the cost of equipment and parts needed to operate her business. “It’s only going to end up having us put our prices up, right?” Blak said. She also worries about the indirect impact of tariffs on her customers, particularly if the dispute begins to have a greater effect on Windsor’s auto sector. “Because of Windsor being so automotive, as soon as it’s going to start affecting more of the automotive, it’s going to affect our customers because our customers aren’t going to have money to come and buy bread,” Blak said. The concerns come as the Trump administration threatens to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and auto parts, while the broader trade dispute continues to put pressure on businesses on both sides of the border. For Windsor businesses, the uncertainty is becoming another challenge in a region closely tied to the U.S. economy. Pugliese said he hopes the two countries can resolve their differences before the impact becomes even more widespread. “It’s scary because there’s going to be people losing all kinds of jobs,” he said.
