What Trump’s Tariffs Could Mean for Canada
President Donald Trump plans to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada, Mexico, and other countries, potentially disrupting key Canadian industries like automotive, agriculture, and energy. While digital goods remain protected under the CUSMA/USMCA trade agreement, concerns linger about the broader economic fallout, including reduced GDP, higher consumer costs, and decreased marketing budgets that could impact digital advertising. Businesses may need to adapt by altering strategies, focusing on domestic markets, or adopting cost-efficient solutions, potentially affecting jobs in advertising. IAB Canada pledges to monitor developments and advocate for maintaining protections under CUSMA/USMCA.
Read more about this in our Policy Brief – The State of Tariffs.
A Refresher to Bill C-76
Bill C-76, “An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act,” introduces key provisions for political advertising ahead of the federal election, including an online ad registry that requires platforms meeting specific Canadian visitor thresholds to archive all paid political ads. The legislation emphasizes transparency by mandating links to the registry with publisher information and ad copies for regulated ads, which include partisan and issue-related content. Platforms must ensure compliance to avoid severe penalties, including fines and jail time. Implications for digital advertising include the need for publishers to manage their registries, monitor issue ads, and adapt to non-standardized government requirements. IAB Canada supports compliance efforts through its issues tracker, helping stakeholders stay informed and mitigate risks.
Read more about this in our Policy Brief – Bill C-76.
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