In response to new U.S. Administration tariffs on Canadian products, Canada has announced counter-tariffs that are scheduled to take effect on September 8, 2026.
While U.S. tariffs do not apply to our finished books, some Canadian counter-tariffs will apply to raw materials we typically source from the United States—most notably coated paper. This development is not welcome, but our team has been monitoring it closely, working with suppliers, and taking steps to minimize any impact on our operations and our customers.
At this point, we do not expect the counter-tariffs to affect pricing, production schedules, or turnaround times. However, they will influence where we source coated paper. It is also important to note that uncoated papers are not subject to any tariffs.
We are taking the following steps:
- Advocacy – we are advocating for the HS Code applied to coated paper to be removed from the Canadian counter-tariff measures because applying a tariff to this paper would actually have the opposite effect of its intended purpose.
- Alternative Papers – we already offer coated paper alternatives that are not subject to these counter-tariffs and will increasingly transition to those stocks.
- Inventory – we are increasing house stock inventory levels to provide a greater buffer given the unpredictable trade situation.
Finished books remain tariff-free, and contingency plans in place for raw materials. We will continue to use the purchasing, inventory, supplier, and advocacy options available to us to manage the situation responsibly.
Friesens remains stable, prepared, and focused on serving our Canadian and American customers with the quality, reliability, and care they expect from us.
