Happy Canada Day dear Canadian Sailors

July 1 was not only Canada Day but also the first day of the new retaliatory tariffs on selected US imports, including ... sailboats.

The Canadian currency has been pretty weak lately, moving from quasi parity with the US$ in 2013 to an exchange rate of approx 1.30 to the US$. (see graph below)

Add 10% of these new import duties. That's about a 40% hike,  not withstanding normal inflation, in getting new dinghies in Canada from the US, such as the Laser or selected Optimist brands such as McLaughlin. 

And obviously, for Beneteaus and other larger sailboats, the price increase is much steeper.

And don't cry, as handkerchiefs, cleansing or facial tissues and towels are also subject to the 10% retaliatory duty!

Happy Canada Day dear Canadian Sailors ! :)

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