Ontario wool producers focused on the positive amid U.S. tariff threat

Why are wool producers in Canada facing an uncertain future? CTV’s Ashley Bacon finds out.

The latest tariff delay by U.S. President Donald Trump has given Canadian companies another opportunity to reevaluate the future of their business.

Among them are the approximately 3,000 sheep farmers and wool producers in Ontario.

In Wallenstein, the owners of Circle R Livestock & Revolution Wool Company say they’re trying to navigate the threat of tariffs.

“As farmers, we absorb those costs because it’s not something that we pass on to our customers,” explained Romy Schill. “For our meal lambs, our market lambs, we sell them through a live auction-based system and we take what we get. We cannot pass on any increased cost to our customers.”

According to the Canadian Wool Council, Canada exported 1.3 million dollars in wool products to the U.S. in 2022, representing 73 per cent of the market.

“In terms of exports to the United States, we’re looking at about $1 million – $1.3 million in just raw wool,” said Matthew Rowe, the council’s CEO. “But the Canadian wool industry is part of a much broader textile industry which, when you’re looking at some of the stats, we’re selling about a billion dollars.”

While the trade war has been unpredictable, changing rapidly from one day to the next, the industry remains focused on promoting Canadian products.

“Our advice is, you need to start looking at alternative markets, need to start looking domestically, how we can sell more products to other countries in the world with whom we have better relationships,” said Rowe.

For now, it’s a waiting game as the federal government tries to negotiate a path forward.

“As a Canadian farmer, and as a small business in Canada, I really appreciate Canadian support for what we’re trying to do,” Schill said.