Airforwarders Association (AfA) executive director Brandon Fried was warned that the US’s decision to impose an additional ten percent tariff on imported Canadian goods will drive up costs.
He told delegates at the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) annual conference in Toronto on October 29 that the measure would “punish American businesses and consumers more than it protects them,” and called for a pause on escalating trade barriers.
“Tariffs don’t build resilience; they build cost,” said Fried. “Every additional charge ripples through the supply chain, from warehouse floors to retail shelves. To encourage growth, we need smarter policy and more cooperation, not higher walls.”
Fried said higher tariffs risk derailing recent progress in restoring air cargo capacity, and urged policymakers to focus on predictable trade conditions that support long-term investment.
He also pointed to the role of innovation and infrastructure in sustaining growth.
“Artificial Intelligence is reshaping logistics, from forecasting to security screening,” he added. But its full potential depends on better data sharing between airlines, forwarders, and airports, with delivery of initiatives like the International Air Transport Association’s ONE Record being key.”
Fried added that Canada’s airports need greater investment in cargo infrastructure, calling it “a shared responsibility, with the industry leading on operations, and government supporting capital improvements.”
