The Canada-U.S. trade war is rippling far beyond importers and exporters in Clarington, squeezing retailers, industrial firms and even service businesses through rising fuel, shipping and tariff costs they can only partly absorb or pass on to customers, a Clarington Board of Trade roundtable heard, according to durhamregion.com.
Board executive director Bonnie Wrightman called the uncertainty 'more frightening than a recession,' while downtown Bowmanville BIA president Ron Hooper said small businesses often miss out on government support programs that require minimum sales or staff thresholds — a particular worry heading into the holiday season.
Both leaders urged residents to shop local whenever possible, saying community spending is one of the few levers local businesses have as tariff-driven costs keep climbing.
Behind the story
Sources & publication details
- Byline
- Daily Durham News
- Published
- Oct 5, 2026, 8:10 a.m.
- Source
- www.durhamregion.com
