Some Indigenous businesses halt exports to U.S. despite long-standing free-trade ties

Indigenous Businesses Halt Shipments to U.S. Amid Tariff Regime

OTTAWA — Some small Indigenous businesses are halting shipments to the U.S. in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, even though trade ties exist that predate the founding of both Canada and the United States.

Seeking Resolution for Trade Routes

“There needs to be a resolution to allow Indigenous Peoples to continue to undergo the trade routes that they have established and practised, and the treaties that have been signed in the past have suggested that these would be honoured,” said Matthew Foss, Vice President of Research and Public Policy at the Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses.

“It’s up to the federal governments in Canada and the United States to figure out how to honour those.”

Impact of Trump’s Tariffs

Trump announced last month his government was going to suspend duty-free de minimus imports from all countries, with the new rules set to come into effect last Friday — part of his government’s larger push to promote domestic business development.

Indigenous craftworks are exempt from tariffs under the current Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement, but the documentation needed to secure that exemption may be too cumbersome for small businesses to handle.

Businesses Face Challenges

Stevi Riley, who operates The Beaded Hero, has decided to stop all sales in the U.S. due to the new import rules, citing a potential 35% increase in shipping costs across the border.

Several other Indigenous businesses, such as Tribal Spirit Drums and Music and Cedarlilie Beads, have also halted U.S.-based sales in response to the changes.

Advocating for Solutions

Jack Royal, Chairman and CEO of the Indigenous Businesses Corporation, highlighted the uncertainty in the U.S.-Canada relationship and the instability it’s causing for Indigenous businesses.

The Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses has been working with the Canada Trade Commissioner Service to find solutions for cross-border trade, while Indigenous leaders are advocating for the re-establishment of rights.

Hope for the Future

Despite the challenges, there is hope for a resolution. Chief Roger Redman of Standing Buffalo First Nation has put forward a resolution at the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting, calling for support in legal opinions on Aboriginal and treaty rights to cross-border trade.

Indigenous businesses like Cedarlilie Beads remain hopeful for the future, with a desire to see trade relations between the U.S. and Canada return to normalcy.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2025.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press