Retailers, importers anxious for details on tariffs

Customs brokers and retailers are anxious to find out the full list of consumer goods imported from the U.S. to face tariffs, which will be released later today by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Fred Bouzide, the owner of Fred's Farm Fresh Produce, imports 70 per cent of his products from the U.S. He doesn't want to see tariffs levied on anything. While he doesn't have the information yet, but he's already certain about the people who will be paying for the change.

"I hate to say it but if they do put 'em on it's the public that pays," said Bouzide, adding that consumer will likely shy away from California-grown cherries.

Another grocery store manager, Hussein Bazzi from Joseph's Produce, said planning pricing to compete with other stores has been hard because he doesn't know his costs.

"You know we just kind of go with the flow right now. We kinda hope for the best," said Bazzi.

Uncertainty in form of tariffs

The retailers buy their goods through customs brokerage firms, which aren't sure what form the tariffs will take. 

Laurie Tannous, vice president of government and industry relations at Farrow, a customs brokerage firm, said it's also uncertain what form the tariffs will take for retailers who buy their goods through a place like Farrow.

It could be in the form of a duty, where the retailers can get a refund, or it could be a surtax, where they wouldn't be able to get a refund through a duty draw back process that exists in Canada and in the U.S.

Tannous said cross-border shoppers may face the tariffs as well.

"If you've gone and purchased a lot of coffee, a lot of whatever the goods are that are listed on the table of the countermeasures, then yes, you're going to have higher duties that you're going to have to pay that you ordinarily wouldn't have," she said.

Freeland will be announcing the full list in Hamilton, accompanied by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and Employment Minister Patty Hajdu.