- A Roadmap To CRA Compliance and Financial Stability
- Navigating Change
- What's Happening
What’s Happening (So You Can Plan, Not Panic)
Trade shifts, tariffs, CUSMA, and other changes that affect Canadian small businesses
By L.Kenway BComm CPB Retired
This is the year you get all your ducks in a row! Start by starting ... and keep it simple. Consistency beats perfection.
Published February 21, 2026
WHAT'S IN THIS ARTICLE
How To Use This Page | What's Happening | Simple Monthly Habit | Acting On What You're Seeing
Canada’s trade routes are shiftingCanada is building options beyond one market.
If you run a home-based business, freelancing, or a small online shop, you don’t have time to follow every headline. But when trade rules shift, costs jump, or cross-border shipping changes, it can hit your pricing, supply chain, and cash flow fast.
This section is where I track the practical 'external changes' that matter most to small Canadian businesses ... without the political noise. You don’t need to become an expert. You just need enough awareness to make calm decisions and protect your margins.
How To Use This Page (short router)
Start here (choose your path):
- If you’re new to the topic: Tariff Primer
- If you want the latest developments: Trade Tariff Timeline (updated as events occur)
- If you’re trying to understand Canada’s direction: Why Canada Is Changing Its Trade Strategy
- If you ship goods across the border: Duty-Free Shipping Is Over
- If you want to prepare for what’s next: CUSMA Review Primer
What's Happening
This series explains what’s changing so you can plan, not panic. It's how to deal with our 'new normal' during these uncertain times.
Trade rules, tariffs, and cross-border processes are shifting quickly these days ... and even if you don’t import or export directly, costs, supply chains, and the Canadian dollar can ripple through to your business.
A Simple Monthly Habit (5 minutes)
- Check one update (timeline or news source you trust).
- Ask: “Did anything change that affects my suppliers, shipping, pricing, or U.S. customers?”
- Track cross-border exposure separately in your books if it’s material.
- If costs moved, adjust pricing assumptions before you get squeezed.
- Then stop. Go run your business.
Want to Act on What You’re Seeing?
- Protect Your Money (cash flow systems and compliance routines)
- Protect Yourself (stress, decision fatigue, and staying steady through uncertainty)
🦆 Note: This page will be updated as events change leading up to the CUSMA review.
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