Canada Fights Back: Tariffs, Luminaires, and the Art of Trade Retaliation
As I was writing an article about tariffs, the TV chyron flashed breaking news: Canada had just released its list of products facing their 25% tariff. Naturally, I googled it to take a look.
Scrolling through the list felt like wandering the aisles of a grocery store—cheese, wine, peanut butter, and other consumer goods dominated the page. Then, buried near the bottom, I spotted it: luminaires. You can read the complete list here.
At first, I held onto hope. The list mentioned searchlights and spotlights—maybe there was a loophole. Maybe general lighting would be spared. But then, I hit section 9405-42.90 and my optimism evaporated.
“Other electric luminaires and lighting fittings: Other, designed for use solely with light-emitting diode (LED) light sources.”
That’s it. No wiggle room, no escape clause. If this is a game of trade war tit-for-tat, this is the tat.
The Trade War Just Got Bigger
According to their website, as of 4 February 2025, Canada is imposing a 25% tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods. The rules are clear:
- These tariffs apply only to goods originating from the U.S. (as determined by the CUSMA Country of Origin Regulations).
- They take effect immediately and will remain in place until the U.S. removes its tariffs on Canada.
- If a shipment was already in transit when the tariffs kicked in, it’s safe. But anything shipped afterward? Welcome to the surcharge zone.
