If you’re a Canadian business owner in 2025, here’s what your morning probably looks like:

• You sip your coffee.
• You scroll the headlines.
• You wince.

Because the news isn’t good.

President Donald Trump is back in office—and back to his old playbook: tariffs, tariffs, and more tariffs. The trade war with China? Reignited. Canada? Caught in the crossfire. And while politicians spar, you are left staring at a balance sheet that’s starting to bleed.

Meanwhile, in the background of this geopolitical spectacle, gold just quietly hit an all-time high of $3,357.40 an ounce. That’s not just a market signal. That’s a screaming alarm bell.

So what does all this mean? And more importantly, what do you do now?

Let’s break it down.

Trump’s Trade Tsunami: The World Just Got More Expensive

President Trump has returned to power with a vengeance. His latest moves?

• 245% tariffs on Chinese imports.
• A 25% blanket tariff on Canadian goods, including manufacturing, lumber, and even agricultural exports.
• A 24% hit on Japanese imports, with more promised if “balance” isn’t restored.
• Oh, and don’t forget the energy sector—even that gets clipped with a 10% surcharge.

These tariffs are designed to punish. But they don’t just punish foreign governments. They punish you—the entrepreneur, the manufacturer, the exporter, the supply chain optimizer.

Gold Hits Record Highs: The Smart Money Is Running for Cover

While politicians feud and markets tumble, savvy investors are making moves. And one thing’s clear: they’re buying gold.

Gold just rocketed past $3,350/oz, a level not even seen during the COVID-19 crash or the 2008 financial crisis. Why?

Because gold is certainty in a world full of chaos. It's the original safe haven. When currencies wobble, when markets spiral, when inflation bites—gold doesn’t blink.

In fact, investment giants like Goldman Sachs and UBS are now projecting gold could hit $3,500 or higher by year’s end.

This isn’t just a gold rush. It’s a confidence crisis.

The Real Impact: Inflation, Supply Chain Shock, and Paralysis

Let’s bring it closer to home. What’s all this doing to your business?

• Input costs are spiking. Raw materials from the U.S., China, or Japan? All up 15–40% overnight.
• Customer demand is unpredictable. Retailers like Temu and Shein are already raising prices—and you may be next.
• Export markets are tightening. Global partners are skittish. And with currency fluctuations on top of tariffs, it’s a minefield.
• Even the S&P 500 is sliding, down over 2% this week alone. The Fed is stuck between raising rates to calm inflation or cutting them to prevent recession.

You don’t have time to wait for them to figure it out.

Here’s Where RiseWithNorth Comes In

This is not the first economic storm. But it may be the most complex.

RiseWithNorth is your economic compass.

We’re not here to offer generic advice. We’re here to:

• Audit your current risk exposure to new tariffs and regulatory barriers.
• Optimize your supply chain to lower costs and find non-tariff-affected alternatives.
• Expand your global reach beyond the U.S. and China. Yes, there are still open markets.
• Create a hedge strategy that includes currency planning and, yes, even smart asset allocations (hello, gold?).
• Equip you with government grants and incentives still available to agile Canadian companies.

You don’t just want to survive this. You want to lead through it.

This Is Your Moment to Rise

David Ogilvy once said, “Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.”

In the face of rising tariffs and soaring gold, it’s easy to play defense. To pull back. To wait and watch.

But fortune rewards the bold—especially those who are prepared.

At RiseWithNorth, we help Canadian businesses not just react—but pivot, adapt, and thrive.

So while others panic, you’ll be positioned to grow. To scale. To win.

• ✅ The tariffs are real.
• ✅ The price of gold is a warning sign.
• ✅ But with the right partner, this could be your breakout year.

Let us help you Rise.

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