Over the past few days, my Threads feed has suddenly been filled with Canadian small business owners.
Some are worried about tariffs and declining US orders. Some are encouraging people to buy Canadian. And under post after post, I keep seeing business owners recommending each other, sharing Canadian brands and telling people where to shop locally.
I have to admit: I didn’t expect Canadians to be this united.
It Felt Surprisingly Familiar
I am Chinese. Growing up in China, the idea of people becoming extremely united during difficult times feels familiar to me. Our country went through enormous hardship in modern history, and that collective memory is still very strong.
But I had never really thought about what that kind of solidarity might look like in another country.
Then I opened Threads and saw thousands of ordinary Canadians saying:
“Tell me which Canadian businesses I should support.”
That genuinely moved me.
Behind the Support Is Real Business Pressure
Of course, there is a serious business story underneath all this.
Many Canadian companies have built strong relationships with the US market. When tariffs, costs and policies change, small businesses can feel the impact very quickly.
I work in international trade, and I can feel some of that uncertainty from my side too.
Some of my clients have become more cautious about placing orders and holding inventory.
Interestingly, others think the opposite: if competitors reduce inventory and they still have stock available, that may create an opportunity.
Same uncertainty. Completely different business decisions.
“Buy Canadian” Can Still Be Global
There is another part of this conversation that interests me as someone working with international supply chains.
A Canadian business does not necessarily manufacture every component of every product inside Canada.
Canadian importers, distributors and wholesalers can source internationally while still building Canadian brands, employing local teams, operating warehouses, serving Canadian customers and creating value in their own communities.
That is simply how modern global supply chains work.
For Canadian distributors sourcing from China, or importers looking for additional international suppliers, diversification may become increasingly important as trade conditions continue to change.
From China, With Respect 🇨🇳❤️🇨🇦
I spend most of my working days thinking about products, factories, quotations, inspections and shipments.
But behind every purchase order is a business, and behind every business is someone trying to build something.
Watching Canadian small businesses support one another over the past few days reminded me of that.
Markets change. Tariffs change. Supply chains change. But people supporting each other through difficult times is something that crosses borders.
From one small business owner on the other side of the world: I’m rooting for you. 🇨🇦❤️
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