Tariff Uncertainty Halts U.S. Sales for Quebec Machinery Maker Control GMC
Control GMC Inc., a Quebec-based manufacturer of specialized food packaging machinery, went six months in 2025 without selling a single new machine to the United States due to tariff uncertainty. The company responded by offering buyers protection against unexpected duties imposed between order and delivery.
Control GMC Inc., a manufacturer of specialized food packaging machinery based in Boucherville, Quebec, experienced a complete halt in new machine sales to the United States for approximately six months beginning in 2025. 
The United States traditionally generates about 70 per cent of the company's sales. Despite this heavy reliance on the American market, not a single new machine was sold to U.S. buyers during that six-month period.
The equipment produced by Control GMC was not subject to tariffs at the time of the lost sales. However, U.S. buyers refrained from purchasing because they feared new duties could be imposed before their ordered equipment was delivered.
To address these concerns and restore confidence among American customers, Control GMC implemented a tariff protection guarantee. The company promised to protect U.S. buyers against any unexpected tariffs incurred between the time they placed an order and the delivery of the equipment. 