Are tariffs affecting the fly fishing industry?
Unfortunately, YES!
Ah the joys of dealing with international trade wars as a small business. This is not what we "signed up for" when we started the shop!
When the US government announced the first set of tariffs on Canada, our government responded with a "reciprocal" tariff of 25% on certain "American Made" products. Initially this included fly lines, rods, reels, and a few other items regardless of the "free trade" agreement that these goods had been under when being imported into Canada. Then just a couple of weeks ago more products were added to that list. We've just received word that fly tying materials made in the US are being hit with 25%. Agh!
Our US suppliers of the higher end rods/reels/lines, etc have been very accommodating in that they are holding off shipping the products to us that would get hit with the 25% tariff (that we would have to pay) and wait to see if this will be resolved in a timely manner. It's not looking good!
Last week's Trump Liberation day tariffs on imports to the US will have an even bigger possible effect on the fishing and fly fishing industry as the vast majority of equipment is made in some of the countries with the highest ratings. Vietnam 46%, Sri Lanka 44%, China 104%, Taiwan & Indonesia 32%, and many others.
These tariffs mean that if a US company - like Orvis, Echo, Redington, Fishpond, fly manufacturers, and others - have their products made in the countries being tariffed, then the US companies will be charged that tariff percentage when the goods arrive in the US (as of today, April 9th, 2025.) If those products then come to Canada they often receive another tariff (which we have been already paying for years) that varies from 6.5% to 18% depending on the product and where it is made.
We are already getting word from some suppliers that some of their next shipments will be directly affected. We have been given a warning that price increases may need to compensate for the tariff hit. So unfortunately this has the possibility to increase fishing gear prices within the next three months or sooner) unless some type of reversal or change comes to the tariffs. Again it's not looking good in the short term!
Fish Tales will hold off on any price increases up to the point that we start seeing these tariffs on incoming shipments and will have no choice other than to pass the extra cost on. We are very lucky that we have a significant amount of inventory in stock. Realistically though fly tying products that we go through quickly at this time of year and regularly re-order will get hit first.
In the meantime go out and enjoy the start of the spring fishing season. Continue to tie the files for the upcoming season and go fishing to forget (for awhile) about current world events! Tight lines and strong tying threads!
David