Montreal Shoppers Hit with 25% Tariff on U.S. Goods

Montreal residents who shop across the border in the U.S. are facing unexpected tariffs on their purchases due to ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Recently, when Jenny Georgiopoulos returned from a shopping trip in Vermont, she was shocked to learn that she had to pay $138 in tariffs on groceries she had purchased, a cost that many Canadians may not be aware of. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump pausing some tariffs on Canadian goods until April 2, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs remain in effect. This means that shoppers bringing back specific American products are hit with a 25% surtax. Georgiopoulos expressed her frustration, feeling that these tariffs punish Canadians for shopping in the U.S. instead of supporting local businesses. The Canada Border Services Agency has been enforcing this surtax recently, affecting a long list of goods from the U.S. If travelers are away for less than 24 hours, they cannot claim any personal exemptions and must pay duties on their purchases. After spending over two days out of the country, Canadians can claim up to $800 without additional duties, but the new surtax complicates this. Georgiopoulos highlighted that she typically shops in the U.S. for cheaper prices and unique products unavailable in Canada. However, after her recent experience, she is reconsidering her crossborder shopping trips and feels a lack of compassion from customs officers. As the trade war continues, many shoppers like Georgiopoulos are left feeling like criminals for simply trying to save money on their grocery bills.