Global capitulates to American tariff threats

Opinion. The views expressed are the author’s own.

Dear Valued customers located in America: Our firm has serviced your corporate needs for custom metal and mill work in the past. you know us well. I have to inform you that we will not quote any future items for you, not because we do not want to, since we do. The tariffs have created a chaotic effect upon us, our relationship with you and the world.

The American Customs Directorate and Border Administration have made the chaotic, unprofitable and caused great uncertainty. We has lost money dealing with our precious clients.

For example an item may have a $10.00 metal part attached to a wood part. They will now place tariffs upon everything, often escalating the price beyond ones imagination. Further more they will mail us three or four weeks after shipments are made invoices worth thousands of dollars. We call only to be told we can challenge the invoices, tariffs and process, saying good luck. The lawyers are the only ones who make money these days.

We find the attitude of American Border and Tariff personnel to be not only challenging, but brutally opportunistic and offensive. They tell us to simply try to get our money back at a reduced rate, if we are willing in time to do so. Canadians are/were America’s Greatest Friends and Allies. I have known many of you for decades and consider you associates, friends and colleagues.

Transport, Tariffs, material costs all have escalated to levels not seen before. The very nature of business requires a developed relationship between client and supplier. The customers Federal Government has militarized its Tariff Policy. We do not want anything to do with it. Nothing Personal.

As long as America’s Administration remains Anti-Canadian and Anti-Free Trade we wish to remain over the other side of the Fence/Border carrying out our business with our neighbors. As always you are welcome to visit the firm and myself in Toronto.

We do not need your tariffs nor your products either. America can isolate itself all it wants, but Canada is a Global Nation holding the greatest respect to our fellow global business partners, including our cousins down south of us.

Respectfully

Steven Kaszab lives in Bradford, Ont.