5 @ 5 @ 5 – April 25, 2025:

5 @ 5 @ 5 – April 25, 2025:

Global Trade Turmoil Puts Small Businesses on Edge
Delivering the world’s most important small business stories before your first coffee.

✍️ George Moen, Founder-Publisher | WBN Global News | April 25, 2025

Tariffs, trade tensions, and economic headwinds are colliding across Canada, the U.S., and around the world. Today’s 5 @ 5 @ 5 spotlights how small businesses are bracing for contraction, seizing new local opportunities, and adapting to global uncertainty.

🇨🇦 Canada

1. Canadian Small Businesses Face Sharp Downturn Ahead, CFIB Warns
   April 24, 2025 | Yahoo Finance
   Why It Matters: Canada’s top small business group warns of a major Q2 contraction, with rising tariffs and falling consumer confidence threatening jobs and local economies.
2. Canadian Economy to Contract in Q2 2025 as Tariffs Weigh on Small Businesses
   April 24, 2025 | Yahoo Finance
   Why It Matters: Economists predict small businesses—especially exporters and manufacturers—will take the brunt of Canada’s looming slowdown as new tariffs bite.
3. CFIB Economic Forecast Predicts Significant Contraction in Second Quarter
   April 24, 2025 | Halifax CityNews
   Why It Matters: With multiple warnings about weaker demand and rising costs, small business owners are being urged to tighten spending and prepare for challenging months ahead.
4. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador Sign Agreement to Knock Down Trade Barriers
   April 24, 2025 | Halton Hills Today
   Why It Matters: Not all the news is grim—provinces reducing trade barriers could help SMBs reach new domestic markets, opening the door to growth at home even as exports struggle.
5. Canada Gaining Traction with Tourists as Travelers Shun U.S., Accor Says
   April 24, 2025 | BNN Bloomberg
   Why It Matters: SMBs in tourism, hospitality, and retail may find relief as international visitors shift their spending north—fueling new demand for Canadian experiences.

🇺🇸 United States

1. PayPal’s CEO Says New Tariffs Pose Threat to U.S. Small Businesses
   April 24, 2025 | Semafor
   Why It Matters: New tariffs could squeeze margins and stall growth for SMBs that rely on global trade—forcing tough decisions about pricing and hiring.
2. Etsy CEO: Small Businesses Could Be ‘Collateral Damage’ of Trump Trade Policy
   April 24, 2025 | Semafor
   Why It Matters: Millions of U.S. e-commerce sellers face uncertainty and potential cost spikes as new trade rules ripple through supply chains.
3. U.S. Small Businesses Anxious About Trump's Trade War
   April 24, 2025 | Global News
   Why It Matters: Real-world voices highlight growing anxiety, with small business owners warning that unpredictable tariffs make planning—and investing—harder than ever.
4. Governor Meyer and Division of Small Business Highlight $14M Available in Small Business Funding
   April 24, 2025 | Delaware Government News
   Why It Matters: It’s not all bad news: new funding for innovation and resilience could help SMBs weather the storm and invest in growth despite wider economic worries.
5. NFIB Urges U.S. Court of Appeals to Reject NLRB's Cemex Standard
   April 24, 2025 | NFIB
   Why It Matters: A major labor law dispute could raise compliance costs for small employers, shifting the landscape for workplace organizing and operations.

🌍 International

1. Trump Trade War Spreads More Gloom Across Businesses Worldwide
   April 24, 2025 | Reuters
   Why It Matters: Escalating tariffs and retaliatory moves are tangling global supply chains—leaving small exporters, importers, and manufacturers scrambling.
2. IMF Warns Global Economic Outlook Deteriorates as Small Exporters Face Rising Costs
   April 24, 2025 | Reuters
   Why It Matters: The IMF signals that small businesses, especially in export-driven markets, are most at risk from the growing economic storm.
3. EU and Asia-Pacific Nations Announce New SME Support Funds to Counter Tariff Effects
   April 24, 2025 | Reuters
   Why It Matters: International governments are rolling out fresh support programs and grants to help small businesses survive—and compete—amid global volatility.
4. International Shipping Rates Surge, Impacting Costs for Import/Export-Focused SMBs
   April 24, 2025 | Reuters
   Why It Matters: Shipping costs have soared, squeezing margins for SMBs reliant on cross-border trade just as demand softens.
5. Global E-commerce Platforms Issue New Compliance Requirements for Cross-Border Sellers
   April 24, 2025 | Reuters
   Why It Matters: Amazon, Alibaba, and other global platforms are introducing tougher rules, adding compliance headaches and potential barriers for small businesses needing global reach most.

George Moen – Founder & Publisher, WBN News
📧 gmoen@wbnn.news

TAGS: # 5 @ 5 # Small Business News # Trade War # Tariff Impact # Global Economy # Exporters # Tourism # Ecommerce # Business Resilience # WBN News # Canada # US # International