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The government of Canada has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on $29.8 billion worth of products imported from the USA, including fishing rods, hooks, nets, lines and other tackle.

While negotiations between the two countries continue and may lead to an eventual easing of these tariffs, the newly announced retaliatory tariffs are in effect. 
In the announcement, Canada explained that these new countermeasures would remain in place until the US eliminates its tariffs against Canadian steel and aluminium products.

Correcting imbalances in international trade, including through the use of tariffs, was a major campaign promise from President Trump and the administration wasted little time moving ahead on this promise.

According to a 2019 study conducted by the US trade body the American Sportfishing Association, roughly 60 per cent of fishing equipment is imported into the country, with two-thirds of these imports coming from China.

The ASA said “New tariffs place a disproportionate burden on the sportfishing industry, which already pays a 10 per cent excise tax on fishing equipment that contributes to conservation and public access efforts carried out through the Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

“To date, the actions most impactful to the sportfishing industry are tariffs on products from China, Canada and Mexico and tariffs on the aluminium content of fishing reels, reel parts and landing nets.

“These, and other trade actions, are implemented through a variety of authorities and a variety of reasons, including fentanyl trafficking, illegal immigration and to rectify trade imbalances. In many cases, whether and how these tariffs will be implemented remains up in the air.”

Citing failures to adequately address fentanyl shipments, President Donald Trump announced that planned 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico would come into effect on March 4th, 2025.

An additional 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports that went into effect on February 4th was increased to 20 per cent a month later, on March 4th.

On February 10th, the President said that, beginning on March 12^th, he would raise the current 10 per cent tariff rate on aluminium to 25 per cent and eliminate all country exemptions. Fishing reels, reel accessories and landing nets are among the 100+ HTS codes impacted. The tariffs apply specifically to the aluminium content, not the whole product.

An ASA spokesman added: “At this time, there is no legislative or regulatory process to seek exclusions from any of these tariffs. Negotiations that impact countries are either underway or expected to begin soon. Additional tariff action and reciprocal tariff announcements are also expected in the months ahead.

“The sportfishing industry contributes more than $230 billion to the US economy and billions of dollars to conservation each year. Our industry supports over 1.1 million jobs nationwide and more than one in six Americans fishing each year.

“We continue to explore opportunities to share the economic and cultural value of recreational fishing with the administration and Congress and promise to keep you informed on the latest developments.”