Local furniture stores are hoping that early August will be the time when Canadian government tariffs may be lifted on furniture from Vietnam and China.
The rates have been in place since May 5.
City Furniture owner in Kamloops, Sid Kandola, says that means some furniture that would cost $ 500 now costs up to $ 1,500.
He says his business and others had to pay the difference for customers who pre-purchased furniture. For City Furniture, he says it’s a difference of about $ 1 million.
“Recliners, sofas, chairs, anything that folds, even sofa beds, electric recliners… It was impacted by China, at nearly 300% (prices). And Vietnam, 100%, or depending on the company, up to 300%.
Kandola says companies can buy furniture domestically, but he says Canadian producers can’t keep up with demand. And he says that before that, due to the pandemic, domestic producers saw wait times double to get products to furniture stores.
“We always support local and Canadian manufacturing. But right now, in this category, Canadian manufacturers can’t even produce 10 percent of this category, ”Kandola said, referring to the folding furniture affected by the tariffs. “And even the manufacturers that we have, they’re looking at six months to order. If you plan to have products made in Canada in this category, you will have to wait a year before you can source.
Tariffs affect furniture companies nationwide, Kandola said.
They were brought in by the Canada Border Services Agency after allegations that China and Vietnam were dumping cheap, government-subsidized furniture into Canada. The allegations were first made by a Winnipeg furniture company.
A final decision from the CBSA on the tariffs is expected on August 2, after an investigation into the allegations is conducted.
