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Securing the Future: 9 Ways to Help Your Business Adapt to New U.S. Policies

Fasken
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Overview

New Regulations and Policies of the Trump Administration: Are You Ready?

Fasken has developed a guide titled Securing the Future: 9 Ways to Help Your Business Adapt to New U.S. Policies.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE (PDF)

Summarizing the key concerns of the business community, the guide provides companies operating in Quebec with recommendations on how to navigate the new regulations and policies of the Trump administration.

FAQ: A Better Understanding of Customs Tariffs

We Heard You: 9 Key Questions, 9 Answers

  1. How can businesses adapt to new U.S. trade policies and potential tariffs?
  2. How can businesses adapt their commercial contracts to new U.S. policies?
  3. How can businesses strenghten corporate governance in response to new business realities?
  4. How can businesses build labour and employment relations in a changing business environment?
  5. How can businesses prepare for changes in immigration policy?
  6. How can businesses navigate the uncertainty created by new environmental and energy policies to remain competitive?
  7. How can businesses adapt to U.S. administration's new approach to regulating technology? 
  8. How can businesses remain competitive amid the tech-related initiatives introduced by the Trump administration?
  9. How can businesses prepare for potential commercial disputes and develop cross-border dispute resolution strategies?

Each section of our guide outlines the impacts of the new U.S. policies, the opportunities they present, and suggestions for making informed decisions.

This guide does not constitute legal advice. It is intended to provide general guidance, which should be followed up with advice tailored to your specific situation.

Tariffs: Your Questions, Our Answers

Are you concerned that the new U.S. tariff policies may impact your cross-border operations? Here are the answers from our lawyers to your questions.

1. How will the new U.S. trade policies affect cross-border trade?

Customs contrais will be stricter, which will lead to additional customs clearance delays. You will also have to comply with new administrative and documentary requirements to prove the origin of goods and compliance with new tariff policies.

2. How will changing tariffs affect production costs and sale prices?

Businesses operating in Québec and exporting to the United States will face administrative costs in connection with managing customs formalities. These additional costs may increase the total cost of producing the goods. To offset the additional costs, businesses may be forced to raise the prices of products sold in the U.S.

3. Who will bear the costs of the new tariff policies?

Costs related to the new tariff policies will primarily be borne by U.S. importing companies. When importing Canadian products, U.S. importing companies will have to pay the tariffs. These additional costs will then be passed on to U.S. consumers in the form of higher prices.

4. How will the new tariff policies affect our cash flow, given the payment terms we have negotiated with our customers?

The new tariff policies could have a significant impact on your cash flow. Additional tariff-related costs could reduce your profit margins and increase your working capital requirements. If the payment terms with your customers do not allow you to quickly offset these costs, you could experience cash flow pressures. lt is therefore essential to review your terms of payment and negotiate more favourable conditions to mitigate the impact of any tariffs.

Authors

  • Raymond Chrétien, CC, Partner | Strategic Advisor | Corporate/Commercial, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5230, rchretien@fasken.com
  • Éric Bédard, Partner | Partner and Leader, Strategic Advisory Services, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 4314, ebedard@fasken.com
  • François Brais, Partner | Managing Partner, Québec Region, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5161, fbrais@fasken.com
  • Vincent Girard, Partner | Managing Partner, Québec Office, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2020, vgirard@fasken.com
  • André Turmel, Partner | Energy and Climate, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5141, aturmel@fasken.com
  • Anne-Marie Naud, Partner | Leader, Corporate/Commercial Group | Co-Leader, Agribusiness, Food & Beverage Group, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2009, anaud@fasken.com
  • Jean-Philippe Mikus, Partner | Trademark Agent | Intellectual Property, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5176, jpmikus@fasken.com
  • Magali Cournoyer-Proulx, Partner | Health, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5266, mproulx@fasken.com
  • Jocelyn Auger, Partner | Information Technology, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7694, jauger@fasken.com
  • Carl Bélanger, Partner | Corporate/Commercial, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 4332, cbelanger@fasken.com
  • Jean-François Cloutier, Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5201, jcloutier@fasken.com
  • Henrick Simard, Partner | Corporate/Commercial, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2004, hsimard@fasken.com
  • Sébastien Roy, Partner | Trademark Agent | Intellectual Property, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2073, sroy@fasken.com
  • Kateri-Anne Grenier, Partner | CO-LEADER, PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2040, kgrenier@fasken.com
  • Laurence Déry, Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2003, ldery@fasken.com
  • Annie Bernard, Partner | Construction Law, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5175, abernard@fasken.com
  • Pierre-Olivier Charlebois, Partner | CO-LEADER, ENERGY AND CLIMATE, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5291, pcharlebois@fasken.com
  • Mathieu Leblanc-Gagnon, Partner | Construction Law, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2036, mleblancgagnon@fasken.com
  • Paul Cabana, Partner | Tax Law, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5213, pcabana@fasken.com
  • Julie Uzan-Naulin, Partner | Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, Montréal, QC, +1 514 871 5967, juzan@fasken.com
  • Jean-Philippe Therriault, Partner | Environmental, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 5103, jtherriault@fasken.com
  • Marie-Christine Valois, Partner | Mergers & Acquisitions, ESG and Sustainability, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7413, mvalois@fasken.com
  • Elisabeth Bouffard, Associate | Labour, Employment & Human Rights, Immigration, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2043, ebouffard@fasken.com
  • Stephanie Heinsohn-Spiropoulos, Associate | Immigration, Montréal, QC, +1 514 657 2769, sheinsohn@fasken.com