If Tariffs Are Affecting Your Simcoe County Business, Here's What the County Says to Do First

1. Take the County's Tariff Impact Assessment (5 minutes)

The County EDO has a live, dedicated tariff resource page at edo.simcoe.ca/tariffs/ — and it's more practical than most government pages. The Tariff Impact Assessment is a short structured form that helps you identify which parts of your business are exposed and what documentation you'll need if conditions tighten further.

You don't have to act on the results. But knowing where you stand is better than guessing.

2. Review the CUSMA compliance guide (free, step-by-step)

The Trade Commissioner Service has published a free CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement) compliance guide — step-by-step, sector-neutral. If you're importing from or exporting to the U.S., this is the framework that determines whether your goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment. It's worth 20 minutes even if you think you already know it — the rules have been updated since 2020.

Find it through the County EDO tariff page or directly via the Trade Commissioner Service website.

3. Consider local sourcing as a mitigation strategy

The Made in Simcoe County program certifies locally produced goods — food, artisan products, agricultural products — under a recognized County designation. Shifting even part of your supply chain to local producers reduces cross-border exposure and can be a genuine marketing angle for businesses selling to Canadian consumers.

Learn more: edo.simcoe.ca/why-simcoe-county/made-in-simcoe-county/

4. Watch the free Trade Commissioner Service webinar on U.S. customs

The Trade Commissioner Service hosts periodic expert-led webinars on navigating U.S. customs requirements. These are free and recorded — you can watch at your own pace. They cover the practical mechanics that most articles skip: how to classify goods, what CBP looks for, and how to handle audits.

5. Map where AI could reduce your exposure — then talk to someone

This is where it gets practical for your day-to-day. Tariff exposure often shows up in the same places that eat your time: tracking supplier price changes, managing customs documentation, automating compliance follow-ups, monitoring regulatory updates, following up on shipments.

AI tools — configured properly — can handle much of that tracking and documentation work. Not because it's exciting, but because it's repeatable. And repeatable tasks are exactly what AI does best.

If you want to map out where that applies to your specific situation, book a free 30-minute call. We'll look at your business, identify where the pressure points are, and see whether AI can reduce the administrative load — whether or not tariffs remain a factor.