LAC LA BICHE - While looming tariffs will impact products Canadians purchase from the United States, there are ways to get around the increased costs that come with the tariffs.
Purchasing existing in-store stock and shopping local, according to one Lac La Biche business owner, is one way to beat the tariffs.
The Canadian government is putting 25 per cent tariffs on certain goods from the United States. The US has also placed tariffs on various Canadian products and resources, including potash.
Mike Hammons, a manager with Lac La Biche Equipment Rentals, says the business sells Bobcat tractors, zero turn mowers, and utility terrain vehicles (UTVS). All of the in-stock inventory items can be purchased without people having to worry about tariffs.
“The stuff I have in stock right now is tariff free,” Hammons said.
Once existing stock has been bought up and he re-orders more, some items will remain tariff-free, such as tractors and UTVs. But tariffs will apply to zero turn mowers, for example.
According to the Government of Canada, large mowers, the type used for large lawns, parks, and sports grounds, are subject to 25 per cent tariffs.
In addition, getting zero turn mowers across the border is impossible.
“The zero turn mowers, I could put in an order for them, but right now, Bobcat is not even shipping them to Canada because of the tariffs,” Hammons explained, adding, he recently spoke with his parts and service representative, who informed him about the situation.
As to the reason why there are tariffs on zero-turn mowers but not tractors and UTVs, Hammons is unsure, adding that the parts and service representative could not answer that question either.
Currently, Lac La Biche Equipment Rentals is offering discounts on the inventory it has in stock already, as it works to establish itself in the area as a location that offers Bobcat products.
With spring and summer quickly approaching, the local business is hoping to sell a lot more of its inventory.
“We’re coming up on the season where this stuff will start going out the door,” Hammons said.
As for how the tariff war between the United States and Canada will affect Lac La Biche Rentals moving forward, Hammons said staff aren’t sure at this point.
Since Lac La Biche Equipment Rentals is a brand-new Bobcat GME dealer that only began selling Bobcat equipment in December, the business feels as though it hasn’t been established long enough to weather the proverbial storm.
While it is uncertain as to whether the tariff war will have an impact on wait times for orders, Hammons predicts that it will.
“We are going to try hard to sell the stock we have on hand then re-evaluate when the time comes to see if we want to continue,” he said.
