Uncertainty looms, say Windsor businesses, as Trump pauses promised tariffs for 30 days

While Canada and the United States have gotten a 30-day reprieve from the threat of tariffs and a trade war, shoppers at a Windsor, Ont., LCBO were preparing themselves Monday afternoon and some uncertainty about future tariffs remains.  

Steven Clayton had purchased a case of Martha Stewart's California Chardonnay just in case American alcohol was pulled from the shelves, a retaliatory measure promised by Premier Doug Ford. But the temporary relief is still fuelling uncertainty. 

"It's my fourth case, don't tell anybody," said Clayton with a laugh.

"I have bought a bottle of wine from California and a bottle of Irish cream from Canada," said Michael Jaworiwsky. "Once the dust settles, I think everything will be fine. There's too many 'Chicken Littles' running around in panic."

With the news of a 30 day pause on tariffs, Ford has also announced a pause in retaliatory measures. Though stated reasons for the tariffs deal with the flow of drugs into the United States, Trump has still said that an "economic" deal with Canada needs to be reached to avert tariffs. 

"For 100 years, we've been integrating economies and we have this madman as the president coming on board who wants to destroy it," said Serge Dignard, who bought a local coffee liqueur.

"His motto is to make America great again. It'll make America alone."

Impact has already begun: Duty Free store

But at Windsor Detroit Tunnel Duty Free shopping, the store says it's already seeing fewer Americans and less foot traffic. 

"Being a business in the border community, we're the first to get hit and the hardest to get hit," said Abe Taqtaq, president of the company.

He said American liquor is the most sold item in the shop and while a month's time is some solace, the uncertainty still prevails.

"The hardest impact is going to be, if this continues to go through it. But how much of an impact? We're in uncharted territory right now."

While supportive of a buy Canadian approach, Taqtaq said governments should consider that many border businesses cannot "withstand another significant impact" similar to the pandemic.

"With every crisis, there's an opportunity," he said. "We are going to start focusing on brands that are Canadian made, Canadian-sourced that we can put forward for our customers to be able to incentivize them to be able to substitute some of the products that are not going to be readily available."

Uncertainty looms: Cocktail bar

At Maiden Lane Wine and Cocktail Bar, American bourbon and whisky is a "mainstay" in many of their signature cocktails. 

Mackenzie Vetor, general manager, said while the temporary relief is welcomed, the "worrisome uncertainty" still looms.

"While there is relief, knowing that maybe the tariffs can be avoided and that we will move forward, there's still so much uncertainty as there was over the last month," he said.

"I'm also concerned just about the U.S. customer base coming over and what kind of effects are going to happen with our relationship there."

That worry is always there in the future, Vetor said.

"If the tariffs do come through eventually, we'll certainly feel it. That's undeniable."

Vetor said one of their top cocktails is the old fashioned, classically made with American bourbon — but they might have to look at putting a twist on it with Canadian spirit options.

"The average Canadian and American didn't ask for this, nor do we plan for it," he said. "My entire life we've shared an amazing alliance and partnership with the U.S. and seemingly all facets of life. It's just scary and the uncertainty around everything has got people in an already strange time gripping their pockets a little tighter."

'A good wake up call:' Downtown Windsor BIA

City councillor and Downtown BIA board member Renaldo Agostino said businesses are adjusting to the uncertainty.

"Everyone's just proceeding with caution... We don't want to play in the field of unknowns. And right now we just don't know enough moving forward," Agostino said.

He said the situation means businesses don't have much control.

"There has been some concern there from some of our business owners that they won't be able to serve some of the products that their customers like."

Agostino said the 'Team Canada' approach should have been the case all along, not a reaction to looming tariffs. 

"It's a really good wake up call for everybody in this country to say that we need to carve out our own identity.There should be a strong focus on buying Canadian," he said.

"But the biggest concern right now is the uncertainty with the border."