Book industry fears Canada's proposed counter-tariffs against U.S.-printed books will do more harm than good

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British Columbia·New

Publishers, booksellers, authors and libraries — fundamentally anyone progressive successful Canada’s publication satellite — are disquieted countertariffs, projected by the Canadian authorities connected U.S.-published works, volition bash irreversible harm to the manufacture arsenic we cognize it.

B.C.-based steadfast Don Gorman says interaction could beryllium 'catastrophic,' and costs would beryllium passed connected to consumers

Courtney Dickson · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 28, 2025 9:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

A stack of books by Canadian authors

Canadian publishers, libraries and booksellers are sounding the alarm astir projected tariffs against U.S.-printed books. (Courtney Dickson/CBC)

As Canada looks for ways to combat backmost against tariffs imposed connected Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump, libraries, booksellers and publishers are disquieted Canadian-made books mightiness beryllium portion of the plan.

The authorities has been moving to fig retired what goods volition beryllium portion of $125 cardinal worthy of counter-tariff measures, and books printed stateside are connected the list. 

"What we're looking astatine is an astir catastrophic deed to the Canadian publication industry," said B.C.-based steadfast Don Gorman.

He figures these tariffs could summation the outgo of books published successful the United States by anyplace from 5 to 20 per cent — a outgo helium said would apt beryllium passed connected to the consumer. 

Smithers, B.C., librarian Wendy Wright said if 25 per cent tariffs were imposed connected books printed successful the United States, costs would beryllium passed connected to the user and libraries similar hers wouldn't beryllium capable to acquisition arsenic galore caller books. 

"If we're not capable to entree a batch of books published successful America due to the fact that they're simply priced retired of reach, it's going to impact libraries which have a precise tiny fixed purchasing budget," she told CBC's Daybreak North impermanent host, Bill Fee.

Anyone tin constitute the authorities to explicate wherefore an point should oregon shouldn't beryllium considered during the unfastened remark period, which closes connected April 2.  

Wright said she did constitute to the national authorities explaining wherefore books should not beryllium portion of the tariffs. 

"It's going to impact the benignant of materials that radical tin spend to buy. It's going to bounds our options severely, and I deliberation Canadians volition beryllium overmuch poorer for it if we can't spend entree to American thought and besides Canadian books by Canadian writers that are published successful the U.S."

In an email to subscribers, the owners of Black Bond Books successful B.C., said the tariffs would "cripple" the industry. 

They said the bulk of books sold successful Canada, including those by Canadian authors, are published by multinational publishers that usage U.S. printers and warehouses. 

"Being forced to either sorb oregon walk connected a 25 per cent tariff would endanger the endurance of our stores and the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians moving successful the publication industry, arsenic good arsenic creating an unnecessary obstruction to accusation and learning for each Canadians," they said. 

Photo shows books connected  show  successful  a publication  store, beneath   a reddish  motion   with a achromatic  maple leaf, and the words 'We Support Local Authors.'

A motion successful Bolen Books, 1 of the galore autarkic bookstores successful Victoria, B.C., connected June 19, 2024 (Kathryn Marlow/CBC)

Association of Canadian Publishers enforcement manager Jack Illingworth, who represents small- to medium-sized publishers successful Canada, is urging Canadians to acquisition books printed successful Canada — of which determination are many.

"There is simply a wealthiness of Canadian authored and published books for readers to take from," helium said. "For example, the astir caller Canada Reads victor and runner-up, those are from Canadian-owned companies."

But he's disquieted astir what tariffs connected books printed successful the U.S. mightiness mean down the road. 

"Our archetypal concerns are astir the imaginable of American retaliation," helium said. As of close now, books are not included successful the 25 per cent tariffs the U.S. has imposed connected Canadian goods. If that were to happen, adjacent much book-related businesses would suffer. 

Additionally, helium wants Canada to support "culture disconnected the table" during commercialized disputes.

"Also, connected behalf of our colleagues successful bookselling, we cognize that the booksellers, the bulk of the books they merchantability are imported. They consciousness it would beryllium tremendously impactful connected their viability, and we request viable booksellers to merchantability our books through."

Illingworth said helium has met with the national Department of Finance and Global Affairs Canada, wherever helium believes they heard his concerns — but inactive isn't definite they'll travel through. 

"They weren't capable to marque immoderate steadfast commitments," helium said. 

The Department of Finance did not accidental whether it was reconsidering tariffs connected books but alternatively said all submissions received during the unfastened remark play "will beryllium fixed cautious consideration."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Dickson is an award-winning writer based successful Vancouver, B.C.

    With files from Hanna Petersen and Daybreak North

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