Tariff Uncertainty Has Forced Us to Stop Shipping to the US – The Real Story from a Small Canadian Tool Business

Tariff Uncertainty Has Forced Us to Stop Shipping to the US – The Real Story from a Small Canadian Tool Business

Hey everyone, Jeremy here from Axeman.ca.

As a small family business in Langley, BC, we've always taken pride in serving customers across Canada and our friends south of the border who love quality axes, saws, and outdoor tools just as much as we do. For years, shipping to the US was straightforward. Customers got the gear they needed without surprises, and we built a loyal following among American bushcrafters, firefighters, and homesteaders.

That changed in the last year. The back-and-forth on US tariffs has created so much uncertainty that we've made the difficult decision to pause all shipping to the United States. Here's exactly why, with no sugarcoating.

The Tariff Situation Right Now (as of late February 2026)

The US Supreme Court struck down the broad emergency tariffs on February 20. Within hours, a new 10% global tariff took effect on February 24 under a different law (Section 122), with talk of raising it to 15%. Goods that fully qualify under the USMCA (CUSMA) are exempt, which covers most traditional Canadian-made products. But here's the catch for us: the majority of the premium tools we carry do not qualify as USMCA-originating.

• Gränsfors Bruk and Hultafors axes (Sweden)
• Silky saws (Japan)
• Even some US made Council Tool items when stocked and shipped from our Canadian warehouse

These are treated as non-USMCA goods when crossing into the US. That means they now face the new 10% tariff on top of any standard duties, plus brokerage fees, possible HST/GST complications on the Canadian side, and whatever CBP decides on the day the package arrives.

Sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, and certain derivatives are still in place too, and hand tools sit right in that world of overlapping rules.

How This Has Hurt Our Small Business

We're not a giant corporation with teams of compliance officers and lawyers on retainer. We're a husband-and-wife and kids operation that sources the absolute best tools, tests them ourselves in BC conditions, and ships them out the door.

Here's what the last 12 months have actually looked like:

1. Unpredictable landed costs for customers We quote a price in CAD or USD. The customer places the order. Then, days or weeks later, they get hit with a surprise bill from US Customs or a broker: "Pay $45 extra in duties or we return the package." Refunds, chargebacks, angry emails, lost trust. We've eaten costs ourselves more times than I can count just to keep customers happy.
2. Costs that literally change week to week One week it's 25%, then 35%, then struck down, then 10% global with threats of 15%. Announcements come on weekends, after business hours, or via social media. We wake up, check the news, and our entire shipping math for the day is upside down. Small businesses can't hedge like big importers. We can't absorb 10-15% hits on every US order and stay profitable.
3. Extra admin and compliance burden Every package now needs extra paperwork, origin declarations, and careful HS code checks. One misstep and the whole shipment gets held or rejected. Our small team was spending hours every day on this instead of packing orders, answering customer questions, or sourcing new stock.
4. Lost sales and cancelled orders We've seen a sharp drop in US orders since the uncertainty ramped up. People who used to buy our Axe Mate holders, Tormek sharpeners, or Fenix lights without hesitation now hesitate or go elsewhere. Some orders get placed then immediately cancelled once the customer researches "current US tariffs on tools from Canada."

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has reported that nearly two-thirds of small businesses are feeling this exact pain: delayed or cancelled orders, higher costs, and constant worry. We're right in the middle of that group.

Why We Chose to Stop Shipping to the US

After too many conversations with frustrated American customers who just wanted their new Gransfors or Hultafors axe without drama, we made the call, Axeman.ca no longer ships to the United States.

This wasn't about politics. It was about protecting our business and protecting our customers. We refuse to keep selling something and then have people hit with unknown fees that change almost daily. Our friends in the US deserve better than that, and so do we.

We're redirecting all that energy back into serving Canadian customers even better: faster shipping within Canada, more in-stock items for BC, Alberta, Ontario and everywhere in between, and new content focused on Canadian conditions (like the wildfire prep guide we just published).

What This Means Going Forward

If you're in the US and you've been a customer, thank you. We genuinely appreciate every order over the years and hope the trade situation stabilizes soon so we can resume shipping. In the meantime, many of the brands we carry (Council Tool, for example) have US dealers you can buy from directly.

For our Canadian customers: this change lets us, hold more stock, and focus 100% on you. No more splitting our attention between two wildly different shipping realities.

If you're a US reader who found us through our blog, feel free to keep reading. The content stays free and the advice stays practical. Maybe one day the rules will make sense again and we'll be back.

Let's Hear From You

Have you been affected by all this tariff uncertainty as a buyer or small business owner? Drop your story in the comments. Whether you're in Canada dealing with higher input costs or in the US dealing with surprise duties, your experiences matter. I'll read every one and share tailored advice where I can.

In the end, we're still the same Axeman.ca: first-responder owned, Quality Outdoor Tools, and committed to the best tools for real-world use. Thanks for sticking with us through the chaos.

Stay ready, stay sharp.

Jeremy Axeman.ca