ENSURING ACCESS TO FIREFIGHTER DECONTAMINATION AMID U.S. TARIFFS; A letter from our Co-Founder
Feb 03, 2025
Dear friends,
Beginning February 4, 2025, the U.S. government has imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, including Sootsoap. The Canadian government in turn is imposing tariffs on U.S. goods into Canada. These tariffs add significant costs to our essential products used by firefighters, police, healthcare, frontline workers, and many more in the United States who rely on Sootsoap to reduce their risk of exposure. It is also anticipated to add expense to our manufacturing process, as we prioritize North American packaging and ingredients in the development of our essential products.
It has been my mandate from day 1 to provide access to personal decontamination solutions when there were none. My husband, a dedicated first-class firefighter at a tech rescue station here in Canada, was given no education on the risk of exposure, and no solution for it, until I launched SOOTSOAP for him, for my daughter's "fire uncles", and for all of you at risk.
To that end, we are actively working on solutions keep our costs as low as possible, while pursuing avenues to secure necessary exemptions. In the meantime, we have already taken measures to maintain accessibility in the U.S., including adjusting our pricing to help offset these new challenges, with complimentary shipping still available. Our commitment to our fire family the world-over remains unwavering, and we will continue to explore every option available to ensure Sootsoap remains a reliable, affordable resource for those who need us most.
I am proud to say that, even with these new challenges we face, SOOTSOAP remains the most effective, most affordable solution for personal decon. We remove more toxicants than any other personal decon product tested, period. We work hard every day to keep our cost per use lower, our proven efficacy higher, and our usage easier than any other option available to you.
I thank you all for your continued support of SOOTSOAP, and of our mission. I like to quote Al Pacino in the greatest movie speech ever made when I'm feeling feisty, and it feels especially right today.
"Either we heal as a team, or we are going to crumble.
Inch by inch, play by play, till we’re finished.
We are in hell right now, gentlemen. Believe me. And, we can stay here and get the sh!t kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light...
Either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals".
You have my commitment to continue to fight for those inches, and to do so with honesty, integrity and transparency.
In return, I need your commitment to personal decontamination. If you are responsible for your department's safety, please prioritize decontamination of the body. If your department does not support this mission, you need to take your health into your own hands. We can't do this alone.
Don't let anyone stop you. Decon like your life depends on it.
Stay safe,
d.