Halifax Chamber of Commerce CEO, Patrick Sullivan seen at their offices in Burnside in Dartmouth Friday October 31, 2025. Photo by TIM KROCHAKArticle contentDespite recent tensions with the United States, businesses in Halifax are showing resilience even while grappling with higher costs and supply issues. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAccording to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s latest business conditions report, optimism among local operations has been improving since the last quarter. This puts Halifax above the national average for business confidence. Article contentArticle contentArticle content“Businesses in Atlantic Canada and Nova Scotia are doing OK given the uncertainty in the market right now,” said chamber CEO Patrick Sullivan. “Nova Scotia had the highest business confidence numbers across Canada. That’s a positive, but we are seeing the impacts from tariffs and from cost increases kind of across the board. So, there is a worry in the business community.” Article contentTariff perilArticle contentThe chamber’s 2025 third-quarter report shows one in four Halifax businesses have passed on tariff costs to customers over the past six months, and another third plan to do so within the next year. Two-thirds of businesses say they can hold out with the current tariffs for at least a year, though many expect tougher times ahead if tariffs grow. Article contentAt the Halifax Folklore Centre, a small instrument store in downtown Halifax, employee Noah Tye said price hikes on imported parts have become harder to ignore. Article contentArticle content“The prices on tuning machines or just little parts that I’d use all the time have doubled in price,” he said. “There’s a lot of guitar companies that have even gone out of business that couldn’t deal with the prices.” Article content Beef, pork, produce and grains have been some of the most impacted goods in the tariff standoff. Photo by PostmediaArticle contentArticle contentTye said some customers are simply putting off purchases, choosing to hold onto or repair older equipment over paying inflated prices. Article contentThe chamber report highlights this strain, stating medium-sized businesses, those with 5 to 99 employees, have faced cost pressures, especially on imports from the United States. Article contentInflation remains the top concern, with 47 per cent of Halifax businesses saying it was their biggest issue, followed by difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees. The unemployment rate in Halifax has remained steady at 5.6 per cent over the past year. Article contentSupply chain frictionArticle contentIssues with supply chains are also present. Almost 60 per cent of businesses reported they have worsened over the past three months, with 40 per cent bracing for further supply chain difficulties over the next three months.
Halifax businesses more optimistic than most in Canada as tariffs drive retail prices upwards
