A Bowmanville supplier says buy Canadian demand has produced a sharp jump in direct orders as new United States tariffs disrupt the company’s export business.
aVenco Ltd., which supplies parchment paper, reported that direct-to-consumer orders rose from about 20 over the previous two years to hundreds in a single week after the latest tariffs took effect.
Tariffs hit a major export market
Company president Kathleen Chapman told The Canadian Press that close to 40 per cent of aVenco’s customers had been in the United States. The Bowmanville company sources raw parchment paper from France and prepares and converts it in Canada.
That supply chain left the business exposed first to U.S. tariffs affecting European goods and then to an additional 50 per cent tariff tied to the Canadian processing of the product, according to the report.
Canadian consumers respond quickly
Chapman said Canadian shoppers began contacting the company and placing orders directly. The sudden response indicates that some consumers are actively seeking domestic alternatives for everyday kitchen and household products.
The Bowmanville experience forms part of a wider trend reported by Canadian food and household-goods companies. Businesses say shoppers are paying closer attention to where products are made while the Canada-U.S. trade dispute continues.
Retail shelves may be slower to change
Chapman said consumers appear to be moving more quickly than retailers. In her view, stores have been slower to adjust shelf space and purchasing decisions to the increased interest in Canadian-made products.
For Durham residents, the story provides a local example of how international trade policy can affect a small manufacturer, its customers and its growth plans. Strong domestic demand may soften some pressure, but it does not automatically replace a large export market or remove the added cost of tariffs.
The order increase was reported September 1. Future sales will show whether the response becomes a lasting purchasing shift or a short-term surge tied to the tariff announcement.
Sources: Durham Radio News / The Canadian Press; Durham Radio News local report
