The U.S.-Canada Tariff Delay: A Pause, But Not a Solution for Small Businesses & Sewists

There’s been a lot of uncertainty lately around the U.S.’s planned 25% tariff on Canadian imports, including textiles, fabrics, and sewing supplies. But just days before it was set to take effect, the government announced a 30-day delay to March 4, giving businesses and makers a short window to prepare.

While this might seem like a temporary win, it doesn’t erase the bigger concerns: What happens next? How will this affect sewists, small businesses, and the creative economy on both sides of the border?

This isn’t just about trade policies or politics—it’s about the fabric (literally and figuratively) of our creative communities. So let’s break down what this means for all of us—not just for Canadian businesses but also for our U.S. friends, fellow sewists, and the small business owners who bring us the fabrics, patterns, and supplies that fuel our craft.

What’s Happening & Why It Matters

The U.S. announced a 25% tariff on goods from Canada, which means anything imported—including fabric, notions, and sewing supplies—would cost significantly more.

While we now have a 30-day pause, there’s no guarantee the tariffs won’t go into effect next month. And if that happens, both Canadian and U.S. sewists, fabric businesses, and small makers will feel the ripple effects.

The U.S. also announced new tariffs on China and Mexico at the same time—targeting industries like manufacturing, electronics, and textiles. While Canada’s tariffs have been postponed, the tariffs on Chinese and Mexican goods are moving forward, meaning the cost of sewing machines, certain textiles, and industrial materials could rise globally.

This isn’t just about whether fabric gets more expensive (though it will). It’s about how our creative ecosystem shifts when cross-border business becomes harder, when independent stores struggle, and when small brands lose customers because of trade barriers.

How Will This Impact Sewists & Small Businesses?

Whether you’re a hobby sewist, a small shop owner, or a sustainable fashion brand, the ripple effects of these tariffs will be hard to ignore.

1. The Cost of Fabrics & Supplies Could Spike

If tariffs move forward, importing fabric, notions, and indie patterns from Canada to the U.S. will be 25% more expensive. Many businesses will have to increase their prices just to survive.

This will be especially tough on small businesses that already have slim profit margins. Unlike big box stores, indie fabric shops and sewing brands can’t absorb extra costs as easily, meaning these price hikes will hit both businesses and customers directly.

2. Shipping & Availability Will Change

For U.S. sewists who frequently purchase from Canadian fabric shops, some suppliers may have to reconsider their shipping options or adjust pricing due to the added costs of tariffs.

For Canadian shops, there’s another challenge: if they lose their U.S. customer base, that’s a major hit to their revenue. Many small businesses depend on U.S. buyers to keep their doors open, and if that income disappears, closures are a real possibility.

3. Retaliation Could Make U.S. Goods More Expensive for Canadians

Trade wars rarely happen in isolation. If the U.S. imposes tariffs on Canadian goods, Canada may retaliate with its own tariffs on U.S. imports.

That means for Canadian sewists, buying fabric, sewing machines, notions, or patterns from U.S. brands could also become more expensive. This could impact everything from your favorite American indie pattern designers to the brands that supply us with high-quality sewing tools.

So this isn’t just a one-sided issue. Sewists in both countries will feel the impact, as the cost of materials increases and fewer shops can afford to ship across the border.

Beyond the Cost: The Bigger Impact on Our Community

This isn’t just about numbers and policies—it’s about people, businesses, and the way we support each other as a creative community.

• For small, independent businesses, losing U.S. customers could be devastating. Many fabric shops, indie designers, and sewing businesses in Canada rely on U.S. buyers, and if that market shrinks, some may not survive.
• For U.S. sewists, fewer options for unique deadstock and sustainable fabrics could mean relying more on fast fashion’s supply chain—something many of us actively try to avoid.
• For both sides, these trade barriers make it harder to share creativity across borders. Sewing is about connection, collaboration, and sharing knowledge, materials, and ideas. When those barriers go up, we all lose.

This isn’t just about “buying local” in a way that alienates our U.S. friends. It’s about recognizing that small businesses, no matter where they are, need our support more than ever.

How Can We Support Each Other?

We can’t control tariffs, but we can control how we show up for each other. Here’s how:

🤝 Support Independent Shops & Makers – Instead of defaulting to large retailers, consider buying from indie pattern designers, fabric shops, and small sewing businesses, whether they’re in Canada or the U.S.

💌 If You Love a Small Business, Tell Them – Small business owners are exhausted and anxious about what’s ahead. A simple message, an order, a share on social media—these things matter more than you know.

♻️ Explore Sustainable & Deadstock Fabrics – If new imports become too expensive, consider reclaimed fabrics, upcycled textiles, or deadstock (which is exactly what Fabcycle is here for).

🌎 Keep the Sewing Community Strong – Whether through online sewing groups, collaborations, or simply lifting each other up, let’s make sure this challenge doesn’t divide us, but brings us together.

FABCYCLE’s Role: Why Deadstock & Sustainable Fabrics Matter More Than Ever

At FABCYCLE, we don’t buy imported stock—we rescue and resell fabric from local apparel manufacturers, keeping it out of landfills and in the hands of makers like you.

This means that while traditional retailers may struggle with tariffs, FABCYCLE remains a stable, tariff-free option for sustainable sewing materials.

But beyond that, we care about the sewing community as a whole. Our goal has always been to help makers, sewists, and designers access high-quality materials while reducing textile waste. And in uncertain times like these, we believe that mission is more important than ever.

Final Thoughts: We’re All in This Together

Please note that this article reflects my perspective on the tariff situation and its potential impact on the sewing and small business community. While I have researched the topic extensively, policies and economic conditions may continue to evolve.

Whether you’re in Canada or the U.S., whether you’re a hobby sewist or a business owner, this tariff situation affects us all. It’s a reminder of how fragile small businesses are, how connected our creative economies really are, and how much we need each other.

This isn’t just about policy—it’s about the real people who run our favorite sewing shops, design the patterns we love, and create the fabrics that inspire us.

So let’s do what we do best: support each other, stay informed, and keep sewing through it all.

💬 What are your thoughts on the tariff situation? How do you think it will affect your sewing or your business? Let’s chat in the comments!

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