Canadian indie bookseller Massy Books, Vancouver B.C., featured a "Tariff Update" on the bookshop's website, noting, in part: "Tariffs are expected to be applied by Canada to books coming into Canada from the U.S. starting April 2, 2025. Books were not listed in the first round of tariffs, but they are now. This is a Canadian tariff intended to retaliate on the recent U.S. tariffs, to cause enough hardship for the U.S. so that they will back off. Most books, by Canadian authors or otherwise, will also be subject to the new tariff because they are warehoused in the U.S. by major publishers and distributors. Although most books sold by Canadian booksellers originate from the U.S., many books by Canadian authors are also warehoused in the U.S. and therefore subject to the tariff."
Noting that the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association is working with indie bookstores, Indigo, and Canadian publishers to coordinate a response to the Canadian government, Massy Books cautioned: "It is not clear whether or not they are working on requesting a remission on tariffs from books and goods entering Canada from the U.S. or not, but we are actively monitoring the situation and will keep you updated as we learn more information.
"Depending on the outcome, starting April 2nd, you may see the cost of some items increase. We’re aiming to reduce additional costs as much as possible, but the reality is we may be forced to increase our prices to ensure our little shop survives this ridiculous tariff war."
Chris Brayshaw, owner of Vancouver's Pulpfiction Books, told CityNews Vancouver: "We think that if a 25% tariff is placed on books entering Canada that it has the potential to instantly destabilize, and potentially permanently cripple the Canadian publishing and bookselling industry. It would be catastrophic....
"I'll believe it when I see it. Part of the U.S. federal government's current playbook is these kinds of rapid-fire threats, which are then walked back, or moderated, or indefinitely suspended. I'll believe it when I see it, but I would be a bad businessperson if I didn't plan for the worst."
Laughing Oyster Bookshop, Courtenay, B.C., posted a message on Facebook to customers: "We can say with confidence that this deadly blow to readers, writers, publishers, libraries, schools, and bookstores in Canada is unlikely to impact the decisions made by the American Republican Party in any way. We believe that the ramifications for our small but culturally impactful industry have been overlooked, and could be saved with the stroke of a pen at no political cost. That's why we are asking you to help us communicate the concern at hand to the Canadian government."
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Amazon has launched Amazon.ie in Ireland, offering a Prime membership option for €6.99 (about $7.60) per month. Customers in Ireland who have U.K. Prime memberships can switch, and will automatically have their U.K. Prime membership canceled and refunded.
Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association of the U.K. & Ireland, posted on social media: "Amazon today launches its .ie site. Irish booksellers all too aware of potential threats to main streets and health of retailers it represents."
Halls cited an Irish Times article ("Yes, Amazon.ie will give Irish shoppers choice. But no, it’s not 'good news for all' ") that reported "consumers will have decisions to make: shopping exclusively with Amazon at the expense of local retailers will be as perilous as it is foolhardy.... Amazon.ie should be welcomed into the Irish retail mix but if the online giant ultimately sounds the death knell for many small and medium-sized Irish retailers who are the lifeblood of communities nationwide, we will all end up the poorer."
Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery in Galway posted: "Irish businesses will struggle to compete with Amazon ie, both online and in the high street. Shop direct with your Irish retailers, who already exist. Support local, not the billionaires."
Little Deer Comics in Dublin posted on Bluesky: "As you probably heard, Amazon is coming for Ireland. It'll come for our small shops, it'll come for our department stores, and it'll come for our media, our journalism, and our democracy.... It offers convenience so it can depress wages with its warehouse workers, so it can break AnPost unions with its drivers, so its delivery drones can have more rights than women. All so Jeff Bezos can die with unspent billions for others to fight over." --Robert Gray