The example of Canadian ready-to-assemble furniture supplier Prepac is a case study in what Robert Lighthizer was discussing with Tucker Carlson yesterday.
Prepac is a furniture company that creates the pre-fab (particle board) type furniture [company here]. The company was founded and established in Canada and previously opened a second facility for manufacturing and distribution in North Carolina.
The U.S. market is their primary sales market, and facing increased uncertainty about access, tariffs and operations their best play is to close shop in Canada and move all operations to the location of their primary customer base. Prepac is leaving Canada for North Carolina.
DELTA, British Columbia — Canadian ready-to-assemble furniture supplier Prepac has reportedly shut down its manufacturing operations in Delta, British Columbia, shifting all production to its facility in North Carolina instead.
According to Unifor, the union that represents Prepac’s workers, tariffs are to blame. More than 170 workers will be laid off.
“Our union has been warning about lost investment and production since Trump began his economic war on Canada and Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “In this case, Prepac and its equity owners are using the tariffs as an excuse to redirect all their production to the U.S. It’s pure greed.”
[…] Prepac was founded in Canada 45 years ago and locally owned until it was acquired by Canadian private equity firm TorQuest in 2019. The company invested $27 million to build its 260,000-square-foot facility in Whitsett, N.C., in 2021, a move that added 200 jobs.
[…] Prepac is the second known furniture manufacturer to lay off workers in Canada since the onset of the trade war. South Shore announced early February that it would lay off 115 workers in Quebec, saying the threat of tariffs has hurt its business too much. (source)
Again, this is a sign of what is to come if Canada remains in opposition to balanced trade and subjects their economy to a significant disconnect from the U.S. market. {Go Deep}
I watched NAFTA hollow out all the manufacturing that my grandparents and parents had been a part of, and leave nothing but empty factories and dead towns. While I’d like to see manufacturing return to the United States, I will still feel some empathy for the people on the losing end of the move.
I was a union millwright in Ga. during that time and at least 60 percent of our work involved shuttering manufacturing plants and shipping the machinery to Mexico, China or Japan.
…..the good ol’ United States Chamber of Commerce…
Chamber of Commerce, spit!
S-it!
Re “While I’d like to see manufacturing return to the United States, I will still feel some empathy for the people on the losing end of the move.”
Why? It’s not likely that a single Canuck felt any empathy for your parents and grandparents when their jobs went to Canada!
Empathy: I get their situation. It sucks.
Sympathy: I feel sorry for them.
That is not true. It is very likely, that many of us ” Canucks ” understand the stress of losing a factory job, or any job. We are all on the same team. Or we wouldn’t be guests on this site. There are a lot of us bud. How about you stop dumping on good people, with your cheap shots?
That crap has been going on in Southern Ontario for a long time. Car manufacturing and their feeder businesses have been dealing with layoffs and closures, on and off, for decades, losing out to Mexico and the US. Just as one example. I dont know a single person who is happy about anyone losing jobs, anywhere, not anyone in my life. It sucks for anyone.
Are you another one at this site who thinks you are better than us? Because you aren’t.
We aren’t all libtards up here. A good majority aren’t.
Try showing some respect. SMH.
*I’m* not going to say anything bad about Canadian citizens – except selected politicians.
I married a naturalized citizen who moved with their parents: Julius (Alberta) and Thelma (Saskatchewan) from Trail, BC (Joe worked at Caminco before they emigrated) to San Diego.
That makes my son Canadian-American, and because a fortunately interrupted premature labor, almost ended up being born in Victoria, BC, himself.
That did make visits from my in-laws pretty damned interesting- filled with watching curling and hockey while they visited, and hearing my in-laws accents (Julius: “Joe”, was French-Canadian) slide subtly into conversations.
Respect is earned, never given.
Amen to this comment.
Why? Humanity. Regardless of who it happens to, it sucks for them. Having empathy for others isn’t a bad thing, in fact quite the opposite. However, doing so doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t make things better for their fellow citizens.
Be careful not to conflate the regular hard-working Canadian citizens with their corrupt government. Our government was just as corrupt until a couple of months ago. You didn’t have the power to stop the Biden regime from screwing-up everything they touched, and the regular people of Canada are powerless to stop Turdo and Carney right now. Maybe with a little economic pressure, we can watch the fall of globalist communism in Canada.
I hope so.
What is important to see is that these companies have absolutely
no loyalty, or feel any sense of duty , shared sacrifice to support the people who made them.
The only obligation they have is to money.
Keep that always in mind.
We are compassionate people but the fact is we have suffered tremendously. Families were gutted due to economic shifts, livelihoods decimated and tragedy ensued. I suspect then drugs poured in as a side income so people could find a way to support their families. What a terrible time it has been for our great country and there are many factors and people to blame.
Now we can understand the feeling of loss for anyone, but I think it is time to focus on our current renaissance that God is helping to ignite. Hopefully when we are truly successful, then we will be in a healthy position to help many others in need.
The biggest disruption was adopting the strategy of de-emphasizing the trades and vocational education and sending our kids to college so they could be Masters of the Universe while those who were not cut out to be students became second class citizens. That goes hand in hand with putting those already working in the trades and manufacturing out to pasture with disability checks and prescriptions for Vicodin and OxyContin. It created the rust belt and the misery of Appalachia.
Several comments I have heard recently in interviews that Trade Secretary Lunick has made about opening trade schools that are linked to guaranteed six figure jobs with the next generation technology companies was very heartening to hear. As a college educated analytical chemist, I started recommending high schoolers pursue trades since a university education in no longer about teaching knowledge, but indoctrination. Because of the short supply and aging demographic, trades are now has the best return on the investment of time and money (Especially if the youngster is MAGA, white, and christian).
And because of the way those industries are structured they are naturally resistant to the work visa craze.
High quality printing and finishing was a huge industry in many States.
It was really an artform from its conception..
Even in some Jr High Schools and High plus Tech schools, was part of hands on skills teaching.
Wonder if the Printing Industry is being considered to come back home?
Too… the assortment of quality paper/stock mills for every design.
Printing Industey – Far too important to overlook…
Eyes Right…
When I think of factories and communities being hollowed out, the first name that comes to mind is Warren Buffet.
Print is just about dead. The world wide web killed it.
Why move atoms when you can move electrons?
I used to consult for print shops – some very talented designers and typographers and signmakers.
A.I. is about to take over web design but you’d be wise to avoid it.
Printing & Finishing is broad.
Packaging for example is just one example.
Go to a store, see it all, and yes, even books.
Also, it is tangible…
Digital printing has also evolved, but the ol’ ink on paper
is basically how it is done.
Finishing is another process depending on what the end
result is needed for.
It is a HUGE market.
“Our union has been warning about lost investment and production since Trump began his economic war on Canada and Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
Wow, that “union” says President Trump started an “economic” war on Canada and Canadian workers? How about Canada and Canadian workers were screwing Americans and American workers!
“In this case, Prepac and its equity owners are using the tariffs as an excuse to redirect all their production to the U.S. It’s pure greed.”
It’s “pure greed” alright, pure greed by Canada and Canadian workers to want all the marbles in every game.
For those of us straddling the border both literally and figuratively, we sure could use an elevator type speech to explain this to our Canadian relatives, neighbors and friends. The Canadians know they’ve been getting squeezed and screwed for years. They can also see they’ll continue to get squeezed, but now don’t know who to blame and why. It exhausts me sometimes trying to get the message to sink in, but I persist.
….or maybe it’s the Chinese playing both sides against the middle…neighbor against neighbor…manipulating exchange rates with impunity…for decades…
The kissing ers and brzerinkskis or however it’s spelled…foreigners in American government…Samantha Power front and center….irish…her husband…Cass Sunstein…british…mayorkas….greek via cuba …fine examples of nations taking a ride on the Muslim culture wars…
Enablers everywhere lining their pockets with gold at the expense of Canadians and Americans…Mexico has always been and always will be corrupted and lost due to Spanish influence….
All for the love of money….and for falling under the spell of money…and the wickedness said spell engenders…
Rinse and repeat…
Name an All American who did not come from somewhere else a few generations back.
So ?
To whom do they swear allegiance to ?
Iirc, Canada’s new ‘ leader ‘ only became a citizen a few months ago.
I’m sure he has Canadians best interest at heart.
I didn’t. And I imagine many others in here could say the same. Abd what’s that got to do with the current subject anyway?
Those that walked the trail of tears.
The people who voted for Justin Trudeau need to wake up stop getting their information from the CBC and it derivatives.
They should vote for people who want to make Canada great again. That would certainly not include traitors sympathetic to, or controlled by, the WEF.
The ‘nice’ Canadians have been rolled for a very long time.
Part of President Trump’s goal will be to open the Canadian media.
That’s a design of the plan, blame the other.
President Trump’s job is to maga, not any other nation.
I do not want Canada to become a state, but it cannot exist as a nation by being parasitic.
Your government, like ours,is the problem.
Robbing Alberta to fund Ontario is wrong and
should have been met with torches and pitch forks a looong time ago.
Robbing Americans to fund Canada is a source of shame, or should be.
The Union bosses are all liberal vermin.
Again, you lump us all in the same category. Its pretty disrespectful.
2nd post like this, dumping on good people, who aren’t your enemy. Direct your anger towards the people who deserve it. The Union l.iberal bootlickers and our corrupt Government.
The workers are not the people doing this stuff. Buy a clue.
The Canadian hate at this site, that Ive always found welcoming and intelligent, sure has a lot of nonsense illogical BS posts directed at people like me, Dekester, and a pile of other Canadian patriots’ who contribute and respect everyone accordingly.
It is misplaced. Again, direct this stuff at the actual policy makers, not the regular people who work hard, to enjoy life, like we all do.
It’s getting to be an overwhelming amount of hate from all sides Bob. Some of us just want to raise our families in peace. This was such a good site but it’s become us vs them, never thought I would see that here amongst what used to be intellingent conversation. We are all being played. Sincerely yours, an un-clot-shotted Ontarian that thinks for herself and works hard to protect her family by going back to the old ways (canning, raising livestock etc)
I know.
This is why I stand up for us all Rox.
We are not the ones that deserve being disrespected. We dont have control of our Government, anymore than the Americans did during the reign of terror by the Obozo/Xiden regimes.
I surmise, they need to be reminded of that, some of these posters.
They got lucky and got themselves a fighter in President Trump.
You and I and many others wish we had a PDJT.
No one I know, personally, wants to see anyone struggle. All of my friends and family understand why PDJt is doing the things he is doing. I do not have a problem with it, whatsoever.
Our libtards have yanked his chain and by extension, the American peoples chains, one too many times. Fair and equitable trade is not asking for a miracle. Whatever we tarfiff them on, we should get that back at us. In a fair world.
The temperature needs to be dialed back. Ordinary Canadians are not the enemy. We are also victims, in an abusive relationship with our corrupt Government.
Bobo, your statement “Whatever we tariff them on, we should get that back at us. In a fair world.” will not work for you guys. I hate to say that but it is true. I would love to see some of your provinces become states but NOT Ontario or Quebec. Those two are your Albatross.
Union bosses, yes.
Lumping everyone together? Uumm, that’s what the union bosses were saying, Canada and Canadians, but I’m not supposed to say America and Americans? I will always stand up for my country. You hold no moral ground on who loves their country the most.
Buy a clue? That sounds very disrespectful.
If Canadians are angry at America or Americans for what is now taking place, after years of them getting an unfair, unequal, and unjust foot-up on America and Americans, then how is it not every Canadian’s fault? A stadium of “regular people who work hard, to enjoy life” proudly sang ‘O Canada’ and then booed while the American anthem was played.
How often do you speak to your fellow countrymen about how Americans have gotten the short stick in most economic “deals” between our two countries? Do we not deserve fair treatment? And if not, why not?
You are obviously unfamiliar with me and my outlooks and opinions. If I have to explain, we are not all the same, which I already did then you rate pretty low on the scale of discernment.
The anthem nonsense you are speaking of happened at 1 game, in Quebec. Montreal. You obviously know nothing about separatist Quebec and their haughty, snotty attitudes.
The rest of your post, Ill leave it to you, to hold yourself as my better, as your wording is exactly what one would expect from a lo-info hater. Ill follow the rules, otherwise, I would have a lot to say to your disrespect and holier than thou post.
When you dish out disrespect, you will receive that back. Did your parents not teach you this? SMH.
The Treehouse used to be a big tent, where we all are on the same team. Then people like you poke their heads out, and wreck the idea that we are all having the same problems, created by the same people.
Keep on thinking you are better, little bird.
You sound pretty “haughty and snotty” yourself.
Bob, I don’t want to be familiar with someone who is mean and belittles others so easily.
You don’t need to explain anything to me.
I don’t hold myself up as better than anyone.
And now you’ve taken to calling me names? Something that is not allowed on this site? I am no “lo-info hater.”
I never said I was better at anything. Read again. And stop calling me names. Sheesh, now its “little bird” spoken in a derogatory way?
I love America.
I love Americans.
Canada has been screwing America and Americans over for years, and President Trump is trying to make the playing field fair.
You make some good points Bobo but who voted for all those lefties.? American taxpayers have been supporting Canadians for years. How? Tariffs. Canada has for years charged us much higher tariffs than we charged them. For years. So we have been paying for their lifestyle. I bet 75% of Canada citizens don’t know that. They are about to.
Canada f-ed around, now they’re finding out.
DEA knows exactly where the fentanyl factories are along the Canadian border and so does the RCMP. Unfortunately, the fentanyl factories are being protected by Canadian Officials because of the $$$ involved.
In addition, the Port of Vancouver along with Canadian Customs Enforcement is totally controlled by the Chinese and Indians (Dot) just like in the U.K.
Obviously, President Trump is aware of this and the Canadian efforts to protect their fentanyl business!
That is correct.
If the LEO’s at the Federal level wanted to end this stuff, it would be ended. Too many corrupt hands have their hands in the cookie jar.
It the same problem on both sides of our border.
We have all the same enemy’s in common.
And their greatest fear is that we realize that and come together in a righteous us against them.
That’s okay –
but I don’t want to buy any of THAT “furniture” anyway!
When I think of all of the beautiful furniture I have known in my life that was made in North Carolina, I don’t think of this kind of thing that is put together at home with an Allen wrench!
I guess it is okay for making a thrown-together shelving unit in the garage or in the broom closet . . . but it is not up to par in my mind with the magnificent furniture made for so many years in North Carolina! By the really nice people of North Carolina!
A BMW was once a fine car…now it’s overpriced junk riding on its glorious past…a used Nissan (with a MANUAL transmission) is a far better deal.
Particle-board Furniture Sucks! It is glued together sawdust. It breaks very easily and usually can’t be fixed unless you use real wood.
I guess there’s plenty of wood and lumber to chip up, following Helene’s decimation, a lot of firewood too.
Trump is so great he would have been tweeting….
Boom Goes the Dynomite if he was President on August 5, 1945
And now that the USA has dominated Canada in hockey Trump is saying they will defend their supremacy against the Russians when he talked to Putin earlier this week.
Were we watching a different game?
I dont recall Canada losing the final.
Hmm?
A Canadian firm that manufactures model railroad locomotives and rail cars just announced that they are recruiting employees and management for a facility that they just opened in New York State.
Ruh roh, Raggy…
Little Bunny
I will not have partical board in my home, but rather either buy from the Amish or make it myself. Furniture that will last for many generations. The true glory of wood and the many different species is truly humbling when you learn to work with it. I never knew my great grandpa, but he was a carpenter from Bohemia and I proudly display his tools and now feel his skills in my hands. Buy this junk when you first start out, but replace it as you are able to.
But somehow it’s a-ok for Canada to tariff US products? This is not an “economic war against Canada”, but a long overdue response to Canada’s economic war on us.
And it’s not “pure greed”, but survival.
x
2 points:
The USMCA tried to correct things but is faced with Canada now is an assembler with little content made in country. Trying to tariff the Chinese content when it is a percent of a product involves gimmick shifting the value in country. Only answer is to tariff the completed product at the same level as China.
2) The rules for the company are probably more in BC (both province & federal) and Union. Is the board cost in BC higher than in NC? Also Union is no union comes into play.
PDJT needs to put 50+% tariffs on Canadian assembled autos and auto parts.
Ontario automakers have 560K Canadian direct and indirect employees, in time those factories will move to the US, employing US workers
UAW wins! Unifor loses!
UAW will vote MAGA for 20 Years
Glad they are coming here. Absolutely SAD that the United States is their “primary customer sales base.” Does not say much for the measure of the general consumer. So many pieces sought after today were made by hand, out of one’s mind. We need to build better, believe better.