Canadian who purchased pricey bike before tariff war still forced to pay 25% levy

A man who ordered an e-bike before Donald Trump was elected will have to pay $2,000 I tariffs when it’s finally delivered.

A Bowen Island resident who ordered and paid for an e-bike from an American start-up company, long before the tariff war began, has been told an extra 25 per cent surtax will be added to his purchase.

Cory Lawrence bought the item from Spark Cycleworks of Connecticut in October, for US$4,495.

The bike was supposed to have been delivered by now.

“The bike is now delayed until the end of April, and I’m now subject to these tariffs that have kicked in,” said Lawrence.

He told CTV News that he backs the push to buy local and fight against U.S. tariffs, but argued he paid for the bike long before Donald Trump was re-elected, and the trade war began.

He figured he’ll have to pay nearly $2,000 in tariff surtax.

“An extra 25 per cent on the cost of this bike, you know I might as well have bought a car at that point,” said Lawrence.

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed that items already in transit on March 4, 2025, the day Canada’s reciprocal tariffs came into force, are exempt.

“Importers must have proof in their possession that such goods were in transit to Canada in order to demonstrate that the surtax is not applicable,” wrote a CBSA spokesperson.

“Such proof may include the following documentation: shipping documents (for example, a bill of lading), report of entry documents, and cargo control documents. Such proof may be requested at any time by a CBSA officer.”

In other words, even if a shipping label had been created, but a delivery person hadn’t picked-up the item by March 4, it would still be hit with the surtax.

Lawrence has written to all levels of government, including Canada’s premiers to plead his case.

“I feel like I’m being punished for something that I have no control over. I can’t cancel the bike. I’m stuck,” he told CTV News.

He’s hoping this is an unintended consequence of the trade war, and that it will get fixed.