Query? US surcharge per Cdn load? $500

OK, hubby got a phone call from a friend tonight who has just been laid off from his job with a Bc company hauling into Washington and Oregon. He was told that the company had been informed that the US was going to be charging $500 per Cdn. product load going across the border. Anyone else heard this? He did not know whether this meant that if a US trucker, bringing product up here, would be exempt the $500 when they returned to US with a Cdn. product load, or if it was only Cdn. truckers hauling Cdn. goods south that the $500 per load fee would apply. If it looks like this is the truth about the surcharge, I would imagine that Cdn. companies might be looking at frantically expanding the Chinese market for their goods. Going to be devastating for Cdn. companies if true. Cost of going across the border is going to be passed on to the producers and shippers of the product. I expect border line-ups are going to be massive for paperwork checks re: fee paid, if true.

 

OK, some more information. Some US politicians think this bill has little chance of passing, but also note the desperate thinking with the colossal American debt. The 500 dollar rate would be the top end cap-the fee would actually be based on a percentage. A Republican from California proposed it, and there is a Democrat also in favour of it. So at this time, it is a wait and see proposition. Some see it as a boost to the 'made in/buy American' movement, and others see it as costly to both the US and Canadian economies. Lots of internet reportage on the proposed bill.