Reader, Brace Yourself
The Impact of Counter-Tariffs on Montreal Bookstores
We’re about to see first-hand the danger in both the (unfortunately rampant) belief that American politics don’t affect us Canadians, and in the denial of the political nature of art. On April 2nd, the 25% retaliatory tariffs on books will strike our local booksellers, readers, and authors, and reverberate throughout the industry. I spoke to Cassandra from Librairie Saint-Henri Books and Alex from Librairie Pulp Books & Cafe to learn more about the impact on independent bookstores and what consumers should do in response.
As a result of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has retaliated in kind by waging a counter-tariff on American goods. The next round of tariffs, which come into effect on April 2nd, include $125 billion worth of goods imported from the US, and bookstores, authors, and readers are pleading with the Canadian government to exclude books from this incoming levy.
Librarie Saint-Henri Books
Neither raising prices nor thinning their margins will be sustainable for local bookstores, according to Cassandra Keating, the Social Media and Events Coordinator at Librarie Saint-Henri Books, who spoke with me about the impending threat of tariffs. She clarified that “especially in cities like Montréal where overhead is already high,” these added costs will add pressure to the already difficult experience of owning an independent bookstore. This will at the very least impact how stores order and price their stock.
Alex Nierenhausen, the co-owner of Pulp Books and Cafe, also discussed the future of the industry with me. He states that the tariffs will be “detrimental” to independent bookstores in Montreal and across Canada. The price jump that most independent outlets will be forced into will incentivize people to buy from places that can take this kind of hit and operate at a loss, such as Amazon and big box stores. Business will be lost - business they can’t afford to lose.
Alex explained how Pulp will feel these tariffs. The fledgling bookstore opened just over a year ago in Verdun and, like most indie stores, can’t eat the extra cost. The fear of losing business and losing momentum in this situation is palpable, in a situation where even more established stores are facing significant peril. The co-owner elaborated that the tariffs would prove devastating, and will “certainly put us all at risk of closure.” Even French-language bookstores, which will likely be hit less hard due to French works generally not being printed or stored in the US, could be in danger. In the long run, if the industry as a whole is impacted, the increasing cost of printing could also harm these stores.
While both Pulp and Saint-Henri always prioritize featuring Canadian authors and presses, Cassandra cautioned that it’s not as simple as “buying Canadian.” Canadian works may also be hit by the tariffs if any step of the production process occurred in the US, so even Canadian authors and publishers will have to contend with these tariffs, losing profits. Shifting everything north of the border may also not fix the matter - it will take time for publishers to sort out how to best respond to these tariffs. Alex further explained that there remains concern about whether the Canadian publishing infrastructure can keep up with the demand. The influx in orders from the few independent publishers who operate entirely on Canadian soil will likely overwhelm their distributor. Sourcing books will take longer - wait times will be lengthy and demand for new books will be higher than ever. Alex warns that a single shipment under these conditions could take anywhere from four to six weeks.
Librarie Pulp Books and Cafe
“If you buy books, you’re about to pay more for them.” Librairie Saint-Henri rather succinctly explained the direct impact of upcoming counter-tariffs on consumers in a recent Instagram post. Narrowing margins - in stores with already gaunt margins - mean that independent outlets will be forced to either hike their prices or close their doors. And, naturally, these higher prices will prompt more buyers to purchase from corporations instead, so this path also threatens the continued existence of indie bookstores. Consumers will have to pay more regardless of where they purchase their books. Consumers lose. Bookstores lose. Only the big corporations win.
That being said, this action may even cripple the giants that dominate the Canadian book market - Indigo has asked the government to exclude books from the tariffs, as fears rise that more consumers will flock to Amazon due to cheaper prices. In recent years, Canadians have stood strong in their preference for in-person buying and physical books, but this could shift as consumers are hit hard with tariffs. Further centralizing and monopolizing of the industry in Canada is the likely result - followed by the closing of your favourite local bookstore.
Books may not be under threat of a ban, but access to them will undeniably be further limited due to higher costs, production halting, and American goods being taken off the shelves. These tariffs will raze the literary landscape of Montreal.
What can we do, according to Cassandra? Spread the word! Alex seconded this, encouraging us to “make noise.” Keep speaking about this - talk to friends, family, teachers, and anyone else who cares about books, politics, local businesses, and art. Share posts from your local bookstore and urge your followers to support local and speak out against these tariffs. You can also write to your Member of Parliament or express your displeasure by filling out a complaint with the government. Also, show your support materially - buy books, buy merch, and buy gift cards - and follow, share, and engage with your local independent bookstores’ social media. Alex urges us to remember that “historically, as an educational resource, books have been exempt from such tariffs,” and that it shouldn’t be any different this time around.
Join me in emailing our MPs, and insist on the importance of access to books, literacy, and art. You can find a link to a template email on Pulp’s Instagram page or write your own! You can also follow this link to file a formal complaint, using the relevant tax codes (4901.10.00; 4901.91.00; 4901.99.00; 4903.00.00). Take five minutes out of your day to assert the importance of bookstores, and insist that the government excludes books from the April 2nd tariffs.
Reading should not be a luxury.
Visit Librairie Pulp Books at 3952 rue Wellington, Verdun QC, and Librairie Saint-Henri Books at 4622 rue Notre Dame Ouest, Montréal QC.
