How US Tariffs Affect the Canadian Art Supply Market

If you’ve noticed rising prices on certain art supplies, increased “out of stock” notices, or difficulties finding specific products, you’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening behind the scenes.

The art supply industry still largely operates on a traditional supply chain model established back in the 1970s—before the internet revolutionized commerce. This model typically follows the chain: manufacturer → distributor → retailer → artist. In many cases, if a distributor is assigned to a region, retailers in that region are required to purchase from that distributor exclusively. They cannot order directly from manufacturers or seek alternative suppliers.

Because the U.S. market is significantly larger than Canada’s, many international art supply brands route their products through U.S.-based distributors before they reach Canada. This system worked relatively well—until recent tariff changes threw it into chaos.

Three Major Effects on the Market

1. Delayed Restocking Due to Tariff Uncertainty
   Some U.S. distributors have not restocked since January 2025, hoping for a court decision to overturn tariffs. That decision hasn’t come, leaving many popular products out of stock. Canadian retailers must now wait for distributors to replenish their inventory before shelves can be restocked here.

2. Tariff-Driven Price Increases
   Although some tariffs have been reduced after negotiations, many still range from 15% to 30% on imported goods entering the U.S.—and these costs are being passed down the supply chain. Since most art supplies entering Canada go through the U.S., even though imports directly from the UK or EU are duty-free for Canada, we still pay the tariffs if the goods come via U.S. distributors. These changes began taking effect in September and October 2025, and are now fully reflected in retail prices.

3. Canadian Tariffs on U.S. Goods (and the Aftermath)
   Canada also imposed retaliatory tariffs on many U.S.-made goods but has since cancelled most of them. However, for items like paper products imported during the tariff period, retailers had to absorb higher costs. As a result, prices remain elevated in order to cover those earlier losses.

Shipments to the U.S. from Canada

Since the removal of the $800 de minimis exemption by the Trump administration in August 2025, and the new U.S. procedures for collecting duties on international shipments, we—like many Canadian businesses—can no longer ship products to U.S. addresses. The burden of compliance and added costs has made cross-border shipping unfeasible for now.