Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is expressing concerns about a new tariff against Canada threatened by President Trump. Among other things, she says the price of hockey equipment could go up even more.
Over the weekend, President Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods. “As the president continues to recklessly and haphazardly threaten countries with tariffs, working New Yorkers and small businesses are paying the price,” says Gillibrand. “If the president follows through on his latest threat to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods, New Yorkers will suffer. From fertilizer to electricity to car parts, Upstate New Yorkers rely heavily on Canadian products. At a time when prices are already soaring, working families shouldn’t have to pay more for what they need. I’m demanding that President Trump halt his illegal actions, and I will do everything in my power to hold the president accountable for the hardship he’s causing for New Yorkers.”
She warns hockey equipment will also go up in price. "They probably will cost more, and that will mean more kids will be using older equipment or be priced out of the sport altogether," says Gillibrand.
Tom Farkas of Great Skate says the surprising thing about hockey equipment is most of it is made elsewhere. "A lot of it's in China, Taiwan, Mexico," explains Farkas. He says that is sent to the Canadian distributors, which houses up in Canada. "Now, if the tariffs come through for Canada moving the goods to the states, it definitely will affect us. But I really don't know much about it at this time, but I think really the industry will probably be affected more. And in the labor wood industry coming through Canada, because they supply a lot of our wood for building," adds Farkas.
Farkas says if the tariff does happen, it's going to increase prices by 20 percent or more. "What hit us last year, our prices have increased almost 20% from our manufacturers, and they haven't come down, although the tariffs have been," notes Farkas. He says the consumer ends up paying the price where the manufacturers, although they're getting cheaper prices now that the tariffs are off, don't pass the savings on to the retailers.
Surprisingly, Farkas says tariffs have not iced sales. "Everybody continues to play. They continue to buy stuff. Our business has been very strong, and although the prices are up, especially on sticks, over $300 and skates up to as high as $1,000. The players are paying the price right now, and there hasn't been much resistance on it, on my end," notes Farkas. He is concerned about losing Canadian shoppers coming down. "People buy hockey equipment from us when they come into town for tournaments. That could affect our Canadian friends coming down and purchasing equipment. I just hope it doesn't happen, because the price of hockey equipment has gone up in the past six months since President Trump took office, and in all industries, and with the Canadian tariffs, I hope they work whatever out so you know, consumers continue to buy products at the right price," says Farkas.
Last year, President Trump levied tariffs on over 90 countries, including a 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy, energy resources, and potash.