Recently, a Puck Junk Podcast listener asked me if the “Trade War” tariffs that are being imposed on goods imported into the United States and in Canada will affect the price of hockey cards.
This was such an interesting question that my co-hosts and I decided to discuss that in greater detail on Episode #214 of the Puck Junk Podcast.
There is a great article on Sports Collectors Daily that details how tariffs would affect hockey cards. I will summarize some of that article here.
At the moment, Upper Deck prints its cards at a facility in Italy after Fanatics bought the printing facility in Texas that both Topps and Upper Deck were using. That means that Upper Deck cards need to be imported into the U.S. from Italy. However, the tariff on goods imported into the United States has been paused until April 2 – though that date may change again. So, prices of hockey cards will not go up in the United States just yet.
On the other hand, on March 4, Canada started imposing a 25% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S., which includes Upper Deck hockey cards. Upper Deck Series 2 and EX-2000 card product were already imported into Canada (but not yet released) when the tariff was imposed, so prices for those two recent releases did not go up.
But future hockey card sets should be subject to the tariff, which will be paid by the importer, with the cost most likely getting passed down to the consumer.
For what it’s worth, Topps prints its Topps Now Hockey stickers in Florida. So, those would not see a price increase within the U.S. But if a Canadian collector orders Topps Now stickers, those would be subject to a 25% tariff.
This also applies to eBay sales of cards traveling over the border to Canada from the United States.
These tariffs will continue as long as the U.S. threatens to tariff – or does tariff – Canadian goods imported into the U.S.
I try not to get political in this newsletter, but this whole trade war thing is beyond stupid.
Sports and collecting should be an escape from the everyday world. But more and more often these days, problems of the everyday world seep into sports. The United States “leadership” threatening to tariff Canada – the U.S.’s best friend and ally – over made-up slights is just nauseating. That’s not how you should treat your friends – or your constituents.
If you are a Canadian reading this, please remember not all of us Americans voted for the current U.S. President.
But you may continue to boo our national anthem at hockey games. I totally understand.
Note: This article is an updated version of an editorial that originally appeared in Volume 3 – Issue 12 of the Puck Junk Newsletter. For stories like these, plus news and updates about hockey cards and collectibles, subscribe to the newsletter here.
Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk
View all posts by Sal Barry
Recently, a Puck Junk Podcast listener asked me if the “Trade War” tariffs that are being imposed on goods imported into the United States and in Canada will affect the price of hockey cards.
