EXCLUSIVE: Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling Looking Into Buying More Items In Canada Amid Trade War With US

Canadians have looked to buy products produced in Canada over goods from the United States amid the trade war between the two North American countries and the situation has even impacted pro wrestling.

Speaking with Cultaholic's Tom Campbell, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling owner Scott D'Amore revealed that he is working to create an item in Canada that the promotion has previously purchased from the United States because of the tariffs. D'Amore, however, believes the booing of the Star-Spangled Banner is "not a good look" for Canadians.

"That gives us an opportunity when we can to lean into as much as possible being as Canadian as possible. If we can buy product A in the US for $1 and we can buy product A in Canada for, truthfully the way out it works out probably $1.60, by the time you do all the tariffs and the taxes it's cheaper to buy the Canadian one for $1.60. It's an interesting time, not something I enjoy as somebody who does a lot of cross-border business, but it's the reality of where we are. The pride that people are showing in Canada and also the American side on some levels is great," D'Amore began.

"The hostility, I wish we could dial it down. We had the Four Nations Face-Off in hockey which was an unbelievable country hockey tournament that the NHL did. To me, I understand the sentiment but to me the Canadian fans booing the US national anthem, not a good look for us. I think be proud of your country, and you can be proud of your country and stand up for your country without slagging other countries. Let's not mistake, if you have an issue with an individual, you don't have an issue with the entire country," he continued.

"What the reality of this unrest is is we have to look at how that affects us in our business. In some ways, I take it and look at it as an opportunity now. There was an item that we have always purchased from the US and paid the taxes and everything on it. Now, with everything that's getting layered on it, we're working with some people here and developing a system to create that product ourselves in Canada. A little bit of self-reliance may come out of this and for other products we'll take it on the chin and we'll still pay the tariff and bring in the goods we need.

"I try to focus on the positives and push the negatives aside. I hope the political unrest subsides with a little bit of time and we can sort that out...We'll take this opportunity to look at where we can find a way to purchase or manufacture some of the things we use in Canada. When not, we'll rely on that amazing juggernaut of an industrial machine that is the United States and we'll take the 25 points on the chin and get it done." 

There have been political tensions between the United States and Canada since Donald Trump's election as the 47th president of the United States in November. Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada and make the country America's 51st state, including as recently as Tuesday when he said: "The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished 51st State."

A trade war between the United States and Canada also recently began when Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Canada. The measure was scheduled to take effect on February 1 but it has twice been delayed and is currently planned to begin on April 2. US Tariffs are currently in place on steel and aluminium imports and Canada announced retaliatory tariffs worth nearly C$30 billion on American imports on Wednesday, March 12.

Political tensions between Canada and the United States came to the fore during the opening of WWE Elimination Chamber on March 1 as the fans in attendance booed the US national anthem before giving a roaring rendition of 'O Canada.'

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling will hold their next set of shows on March 14 and March 15 at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, The promotion will then hold Northern Rising on May 11 at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre (FKA Maple Leaf Gardens). Maple Leaf Pro events air on TrillerTV.

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