Canadian Wool Collective Statement on new Wool Tariffs
August 25th, 2026

The United States has imposed a new 50% tariff on many Canadian goods including Canadian wool (raw - unscoured, uncarded). This will affect Canadian sheep farmers, manufacturers and textile/clothing designers and businesses at a time when North American textile production is already tenuous.

The reality for Canadian wool and our national wool economy is that many local producers currently rely on relationships with the US to go from raw material to finished product. The Canadian Wool Collective, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to revaluing Canadian wool, has been advocating for a stronger national infrastructure since 2020.

“This is an excellent time for us to re-invest in domestic wool production in Canada and to look for innovative new products and value chains for our current wool production,” says Anna Hunter, Chair of the Canadian Wool Collective.

“With global pandemics, trade wars and international conflict, the last six years have proven how fragile our globalized supply chains can be and have revealed the serious gaps in production here in Canada. We must look to our own communities and resources and develop wool production systems at home. This will be good for farmers, for rural economies, increase employment and will contribute to our climate change mitigation goals. This will build on the incredible work already being carried out by farmers, small mills and businesses that make up part of our membership,” continues Hunter.

This is not simply a blow to Canadian wool—it is an opportunity to build something stronger. Canada has the farmers, the historical precedent, and the creativity to develop a resilient domestic wool economy, but we need to act now. Instead of exporting our raw materials and importing finished products, we can create value here at home. The tariff may be a barrier, but it can also be the catalyst Canada needs to finally invest in its own wool.