Trade, Tariffs, and Traveling to the US for a Gig

February 1, 2025

Allistair Elliott  -  AFM Vice President from Canada

The trade relationship between the US and Canada is the largest in the world. According to statistics on Wikipedia, the goods and services traded between our two countries totalled $923 billion in 2023. US exports were $441 billion, while imports were $482 billion, for a US $41 billion trade deficit with Canada.

Canada historically held a trade deficit with the US every year since 1985 in net trade of goods, excluding services. The trade across the Ambassador Bridge, between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, alone is equal to all trade between the US and Japan.

Energy trade is the largest component of this cross-border commerce. Canada has the third largest oil reserves (after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela). The US has historically been Canada’s only foreign market for natural gas, oil, and hydro. Agriculture (specifically dairy products) has been a source of tension in recent years, as is the importation of less costly prescription drugs from Canada to the US. Due to the Canadian government’s price controls, the cost of prescription drugs can be a fraction of the price paid by consumers in the US, where the market is unregulated. Over the years, other commodities, such as lumber, have been the subject of trade disputes in this chess game.

What does this have to do with our industry? Well, buried way down in the list of trade issues are media and culture. While generally low on both governments’ priority lists, these are of high interest to our industry.

For Canadian musicians, travel to the US for work requires a visa for all types of musical engagements. Expanding their careers into this larger market is a goal for many Canadian musicians. They currently face many challenges even after taking all the right steps to obtain a visa.

Since June 2024, the process to apply requires more and more lead time due to longer processing times and administrative changes at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The delays seem to occur randomly in about 50% of the applications with no way to predict which ones will be delayed.

The cost also continues to increase because growing backlogs and delays require the Premium Processing fee to be paid more frequently. AFM lobby efforts, both solo and with a committee of other US industry representatives and immigration attorneys, worked hard to prevent costs from increasing astronomically. (From $460-$510 for a P-2 visa, versus USCIS proposed $1,615, when new fee rules were implemented in April 2024.) Although costs are burdensome for all our members working in the US, this is a huge issue among independent, touring freelance musicians in Canada. And when they do not receive their visas in a timely manner, they can see entire tours crumble.

With the new administration in power in Washington, DC, and the threat of higher tariffs looming, governments on both sides of the border are posturing, puffing out their chests with statements that threaten this, that, and the other.

We are two countries, but we are one union. AFM staff continues to work together on both sides of the border to represent all members. Our P-2 visa staff work tirelessly to process visa applications, while pivoting to face processing hurdles USCIS throws in the way. We understand that this is a stressful time for members awaiting information on their visa status. Rest assured that our staff continue to work in a timely and efficient manner on their behalf.

AFM Director of Government Affairs Ben Kessler and Executive Director AFM Canadian Office Liana White are the key point persons for the P-2 visa process, in respect to both lobbying and administrative work.

At the AFM, we are collectively holding our breath on how trade will be affected between the US and Canada as the plans of the new US administration unfold. We will continue to work together as the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada to facilitate our Canadian musicians traveling to the US to work.

Throughout history, as governments change and politics interfere with this critical piece of our world, we adjust, pivot, and endeavor to work together to do our best to make the lives of professional musicians better.

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