Tariff Troubles 2025: 7 Brutal Ways New Tech Import Laws Are Hurting Canadian Businesses
Discover how new tech import laws in 2025 are severely impacting Canadian tech businesses. Learn 7 key ways your company could be affected and what to do next.
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Introduction: The Impact of New Tech Import Laws
The new tech import laws enacted in early 2025 have sent shockwaves through the Canadian technology sector. From phone repair shops to device resellers and electronics retailers, businesses across the country are experiencing steep cost increases, longer delays, and shrinking profits.
Understanding how these tariff changes affect your operations is essential if you want to remain competitive in this evolving landscape. In this post, we’ll explore 7 brutal ways the new tech import laws are hitting tech businesses—and what you can do to stay ahead.
1. Soaring Costs of Imported Tech Components
One of the first and most noticeable impacts of the new tech import laws is the increased cost of imported components.
Tariffs have been raised by as much as 20-35% on specific electronics and smartphone parts coming from major manufacturing hubs like China, South Korea, and Vietnam (source).
For businesses like Nanotech Mobile, which rely heavily on importing OEM parts for phone and tablet repairs, these added costs translate directly into slimmer margins—or higher prices for customers.
2. Shrinking Margins for Small Repair Shops
Many small to mid-sized tech repair businesses were already operating with tight margins. Now, with higher import duties, they’re faced with a tough choice:
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Absorb the cost and reduce profit
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Pass the cost to customers and risk losing business
Neither option is ideal, but the new tech import laws are forcing shops to reevaluate their pricing models and supplier relationships.
Internal link: At Nanotech Mobile, we specialize in affordable phone repairs with refurbished parts to offset rising costs. Learn more about our repair services.
3. Delays in Product Availability
Tariffs often go hand-in-hand with increased inspections and stricter customs regulations. For many businesses, this means longer wait times for critical parts and products.
Delays in supply can lead to:
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Missed sales opportunities
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Longer turnaround times
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Customer dissatisfaction
If your business promises same-day repairs or quick delivery, the delays caused by new tech import laws can seriously affect your reputation.
4. Supply Chain Disruptions
In addition to delays, many tech businesses are dealing with supply chain chaos. Importers are scrambling to find tariff-free or lower-cost alternatives, leading to backlogs and inconsistencies in quality.
Worse still, trusted suppliers may stop shipping to Canada altogether if the tariffs make it unprofitable for them.
Tech business owners must now:
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Diversify suppliers
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Consider domestic alternatives
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Look into refurbished inventory to keep shelves stocked
5. Increased Prices for Consumers
When the cost of doing business rises, that burden inevitably gets passed to the consumer. Whether you’re buying a new smartphone, getting a cracked screen repaired, or replacing a battery, prices are going up.
According to a recent report from Global News, Canadians can expect to pay 10–15% more for common electronic goods by the end of 2025 (source).
This change will likely cause a shift in consumer behavior—favoring refurbished or second-hand tech, and making price transparency more important than ever.
6. Reduced Competitiveness for Canadian Startups
Canadian tech startups often rely on international supply chains to prototype and manufacture products affordably. With the new tech import laws in place, startups face an uphill battle.
Many startups will:
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Struggle to scale operations affordably
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Be forced to relocate production
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Lose pricing competitiveness in global markets
This threatens innovation and may slow Canada’s growing reputation as a hub for clean tech and digital innovation.
7. Forced Shift to Domestic or Refurbished Alternatives
There’s a silver lining: the new tech import laws are making refurbished electronics and domestic tech solutions more attractive than ever.
Canadian businesses like Nanotech Mobile are pivoting to stock more refurbished devices, source parts locally, and recycle old electronics to extract usable components.
This shift is helping:
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Reduce dependency on costly imports
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Support sustainability initiatives
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Offer more affordable options to consumers
Internal link: See how we’re turning challenges into opportunities with our recycling and refurbishing program.
What Tech Businesses Can Do to Adapt
Here are some practical strategies to navigate the new tech import laws in 2025:
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Negotiate bulk discounts with current suppliers
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Partner with local Canadian part suppliers
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Expand into device refurbishment to lower costs
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Offer repair subscription plans to retain customers
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Invest in inventory forecasting software to manage delays
Businesses that act now will be in a much stronger position than those that wait for tariffs to settle.
Final Thoughts: Is There a Way Forward?
The new tech import laws of 2025 are certainly creating challenges—but they’re also opening new doors. Canadian tech businesses willing to innovate, diversify, and adapt can still thrive.
By embracing refurbishment, exploring local suppliers, and focusing on customer retention, the industry can weather the tariff storm—and come out stronger.
Want to future-proof your tech business? Stay tuned to our Nanotech Mobile blog for more updates, insights, and survival strategies.