CULC, CFLA, CARL respond to proposed 25% tariff on library materials

March 28, 2025

Updated: April 3, 2025

The Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) have submitted responses to the Government of Canada’s Notice of Intent to Impose Counter Tariffs which includes a proposal to apply counter tariffs on US-manufactured books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs, and CDs.

CULC/CBUC’s Response to the Government of Canada’s Intent to Impose Tariffs

A Letter to the Department of Finance regarding
Notice of Intent to Impose Counter Tariffs

March 26, 2025

On March 13, 2025 the Government of Canada released a Notice of Intent to Impose Counter Tariffs which included a comment period inviting stakeholder feedback on the impact of the tariffs on Canadian institutions.

I am writing on behalf of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council/Conseil des Bibliothèques Urbaines du Canada (CULC/CBUC) to express concerns over the proposal to apply counter tariffs on US-manufactured books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs, and CDs. This proposal, if implemented, will have a devastating effect on the purchasing power of public libraries across Canada and has the potential to compromise our mission to provide access to the world’s information and ideas.

While Canadian public libraries prioritize the purchase of Canadian content and use of Canadian distributors, and strongly support Canadian authors and publishers, the reality is that the Canadian publishing industry relies heavily on US production and warehousing.  Much unique and popular content is produced by multinational publishers outside Canada, primarily in the US. A 25% tariff on US-manufactured materials would collectively cost Canadian libraries millions of dollars and represent at minimum a 10% reduction to budgets that are already under pressure from multiple formats, license restrictions on digital content, inflation and the high US dollar.   These costs are ultimately borne by Canadians, either through increased taxes or reduced access.

This reduction in purchasing power will decrease the breadth and depth of content that libraries make available at a time when free access to unbiased information sources and diverse points of view and ideas has never been more important. Public libraries act as a powerful force for democracy by guaranteeing and facilitating the free exchange of information at all levels of society. They also act as a vital content source for members of our communities who are unable to afford individual access to content. Inevitably, the impact of diminished library collections will be disproportionately felt by these users.

Historically, cultural goods have been exempt from tariffs. This precedent recognizes the critical role they play in supporting an informed and educated society. Given the impact such tariffs will have on public library customers, we ask the Department of Finance to reconsider the inclusion of these items in the counter-tariff measures.  Doing so will support public libraries in our mission to enable all Canadians to freely explore the ideas, culture, and knowledge that helps create informed, engaged citizens.

Mary Chevreau

Executive Director

(Via Canadian Urban Libraries Council)

CFLA Letter to Minister of Finance

March 28, 2025

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Finance

RE: Impact of Tariffs on Canada’s Libraries

Dear Minister Champagne,

I write to you on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), Canada’s national library associating representing 28 associations from the library and information sector across the country. Together, we advocate on behalf of over 4,500 libraries that millions of Canadians in multiple sectors rely on.

CFLA is concerned with the proposed retaliatory tariffs as applied to books, periodicals, and children’s print materials (items 4901.10.00, 4901.92.00, 4901.99.00. 4902.90.00 and 4903.00.00). All Canadian libraries will be affected deeply by the proposed 25% tariff on these materials. These tariffs will significantly reduce the budget capacity for Canadian libraries which will in turn limit access to content and resources for library users. Due to the interconnected relationship between the library and publishing sectors, this will also have the unintended impact of limiting access to Canadian content. Much of the printing of books and other content, including materials produced by Canadian publishers, is based in the United States; tariffs thus negatively impact access to materials by Canadian writers or that focus on the Canadian experience if they are printed in the US. This compromises access to Canadian cultural expression at a time when our national sovereignty is already under attack.

This will have significant negative impacts for Canadians.

Millions of Canadians rely on libraries for access to information to make informed decisions about critical issues including financial matters, health, education and civic engagement. In the educational context, school libraries are demonstrated to significantly improve educational outcomes; access to research and scholarly materials is crucial to academic libraries and their work in supporting both an educated Canadian population, and in furthering excellence in Canadian scholarship, innovation and knowledge. Public libraries are a critical institution for promoting democratic values and literacy skills, both of which are already under severe threat.

Libraries are crucial to building economic, cultural and social capital and CFLA strongly urges you to exempt library collections from these tariffs.

Sincerely,

Andrea Cecchetto
Chair, Canadian Federation of Library Associations

(Via Canadian Federation of Library Associations)

CARL’s Response to the Consultation on Proposed Tariffs

April 2, 2025

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Finance

RE: The Impact to Libraries from the Intent to Impose Counter Tariffs

Dear Minister Champagne,

The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) is a bilingual, not-for-profit organization that provides leadership and strategic collaboration for its membership which includes the 29 major Canadian university libraries and three federal libraries. CARL and its member libraries are very concerned about the potential ramifications of the government’s proposed retaliatory tariffs on books, journals, periodicals, textbooks, and other printed materials (items 4901.10.00, 4901.91.00, 4901.99.00, 4902.10.00, 4902.90.00, 4903.00.00) and asks that libraries are granted an exemption from the tariffs on these goods.

Research libraries play a pivotal role in providing access to information and scholarship to tens of thousands of faculty and the over 2 million students studying in higher education institutions in Canada, a population that is integral to driving Canada’s innovation and the economy. Despite the large-scale shift towards digital delivery of content, academic libraries still purchase and lend physical books, with some of our member libraries dedicating upwards of 15% of their collections budgets towards the purchase of print materials. As a result our libraries will be greatly impacted by the proposed 25% tariff on print books and it could result in millions of dollars in additional costs. Compounded by provincial budget cuts and a weak Canadian dollar, these tariffs pose a significant challenge to libraries in upholding their collections mandate and will interfere with the ability of Canada’s universities to meet and advance their research and education agendas.

The impact to students cannot be overlooked as they will be faced with additional costs when purchasing textbooks and other educational resources, which has already been noted to be unaffordable to most.

It is also important to clarify that these tariffs are unlikely to have any positive outcome for Canadian creators, including authors of research and educational materials. Scholarly materials are largely non-fungible, and libraries are not in a position to find Canadian made alternatives to critical research and teaching materials generated in the US, forcing libraries to reduce the amount of educational materials they can purchase to support teaching and learning.

Furthermore, the Canadian and US publishing sectors are very intertwined. Often, Canadian creators choose to publish with US-based publishers, and many Canadian publishers use US-based facilities for the production and printing of their materials. As a result, Canadian creators and publishers will be negatively impacted inadvertently by the proposed potential tariffs.

CARL’s members’ library collections are crucial to Canadian education, scholarship, innovation and the economy and we ask that you provide an exemption for books, journals, periodicals, textbooks, and other printed materials.

Sincerely,
Katherine McColgan
Acting Executive Director

(Via Canadian Association of Research Libraries)

📸: 360164440 © Waingro | Dreamstime.com