ACTA "extremely concerned" about Trump's tariffs, calls on advisors to take action

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) says it is "extremely concerned" about the illegal tariff measures imposed by the United States on Tuesday (March 4), saying they will profoundly harm both the American and Canadian economies.

The association is calling for Canadian and American travel industry colleagues to demand their immediate withdrawal.

"The long-standing partnership between our two countries has underpinned strong economic ties and provided stability, growth, and opportunity for both nations," ACTA said in a news release Tuesday afternoon. "The U.S. is a top destination choice for Canadians and Canada is a top destination for American travellers – travel between our countries contributes billions to both economies. Travel is now at risk, and we are already seeing signs that demand for U.S. destinations by Canadians is decreasing.

Economic impact

ACTA says the tariffs will have "significant economic consequences," making goods and services more expensive on both sides of the border. 

"Every facet of the Canadian and U.S. economies will feel the impact – from manufacturing and agriculture to retail and tourism," ACTA said. 

In particular, the Canadian dollar will fall even more against the U.S. currency, further weakening Canadians’ buying power and appetite for travel, analysts say. 

READ MORE: Trump's 25% tariffs spark recession fears; travel industry pivots to limit impact

"As Canadian companies face higher costs, job losses will inevitably follow, reducing disposable income for millions of households. If these tariffs are not short-lived the direct impact on Canadians' purchasing power will significantly harm travel advisors as their clients delay or cancel travel plans due to financial constraints," ACTA said. 

Response & advocacy

ACTA says it has been joining weekly meetings with the federal government over the past month and will continue vigorously advocating for travel agencies, travel advisors, and independent travel advisors with all levels of government.

"We are currently assessing the full impact of these tariffs as the situation unfolds and will be communicating with members on a timely basis through our various communication channels – member advisories, media releases, ACTA social channels and live information sessions," the association said. 

READ MORE: As Canadians rethink U.S. travel, industry pros pivot to mitigate potential losses

"Should the tariffs remain in place, we will be moving to monthly townhall updates, or more frequently as needed, to keep our travel agencies, travel advisors and independent travel advisors informed and engaged in advocacy efforts.: 

ACTA said it will closely monitoring this situation and is in active dialogue with key industry stakeholders and governments on both sides of the border. 

"We will strongly advocate for our members to be protected from the economic fallout from the tariffs and the damage it will do to our industry."

Actions travel agencies/advisors can take

Individual travel advisors can make their voices heard, says ACTA, outlining the following: 

1. If you normally book travel to the United States, write directly to state senators about how much business you sell to their state, how these tariffs are risking this valuable economic activity and ask them to advocate to have these tariffs removed. Senator contact information is available here.
2. Voice your opposition to these tariffs on social media, clearly articulating how they will impact your business and your clients. Refrain from derogatory comments, just state the facts and reiterate that Americans have been our allies, friends and neighbours for decades.
3. Share concrete examples with ACTA about how these tariffs are affecting your bookings and business operations so we can strengthen our advocacy efforts. Please email Avery Campbell, director of advocacy and industry relations, at acampbell@acta.ca. "We are particularly interested in learning about changes to future bookings to the US and how your business is being impacted, and ideas for support that governments can provide," said ACTA.

The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is also calling on travel and tourism pros to take action against Trump’s “damaging tariffs." Click here to read CATO's recommendations.

Townhall on March 11

Join ACTA on Tuesday March 11, 2025 at 1 p.m. ET for the ACTA Advocacy Townhall featuring ACTA's Avery Campbell. 

Campbell will be providing updates on ACTA’s latest advocacy efforts, including an update on Canada-U.S. relations, and discuss how the association is supporting travel advisors and agencies across Canada. Register here.

A French version will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. ET with Patrice Malacort, membership manager, Quebec. Register here.

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