B.C. book stores bracing for potentially devastating tariffs

Canadian booksellers are looking very closely to see if the federal government is going to go through with retaliatory tariffs against the United States on April 2.

The Canadian book industry, and the supply chain that they are in, is heavily integrated with the U.S., and if the tariffs are to go forward, the owner of Pulpfiction Books in Vancouver says it could be devastating for the industry.

“We think that if a 25 percent tariff is placed on books entering Canada that it has the potential to instantly destabilize, and potentially permanently cripple the Canadian publishing and bookselling industry. It would be catastrophic,” owner Chris Brayshaw told CityNews.

Brayshaw has been selling books at his store on Main Street for 25 years.

Shops like his might be the last place you’d expect to be bracing themselves from the ongoing trade war. The first round of counter-tariffs against the U.S. didn’t cover books, but the second round this April, will.

“I’ll believe it when I see it. Part of the U.S. federal government’s current playbook is these kinds of rapid-fire threats, which are then walked back, or moderated, or indefinitely suspended. I’ll believe it when I see it, but I would be a bad businessperson if I didn’t plan for the worst,” Brayshaw explained.

If the tariffs go ahead – Brayshaw says he’s prepared to immediately cut back on books shipped from the U-S – but depending on the bookstore, that’s easier said than done.

He says the vast majority of the book printing in North America happens south of the border, and any Canadian retailer that sells books – from mom-and-pop stores to the little aisle at the grocery store – could be affected.

“Many Canadian authors, especially if they are published by a larger publisher, chances are that even though they are Canadian, their book is printed in the United States, and is subject to a tariff as being a print good manufactured in the States. Or, their book, again if they’re Canadian, their book is warehoused in the U.S.,” Brayshaw added.

Massy Books in Chinatown is also bracing itself for book tariffs, as it let customers know Wednesday that the cost of some items may rise.

In an Instagram post, it says the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association is actively working with bookstores and Canadian publishers to coordinate a response to the federal government.

While Brayshaw still thinks the chances of counter-tariffs are slim, he believes this potential development in the U.S.-Canada trade war could mean layoffs across the industry. 

“I think the U.S. president is a dangerous fool. I think a lot of U.S. economic and foreign relations policy is being run, I’ll be polite and say, by the seat of his pants,” Brayshaw said.

CityNews has reached out to the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association for more information.