Small Business Faces Global Pressure

5 @ 5 @ 5 – May 2, 2025

Delivering the world’s most important small business stories before your first coffee.

By George Moen | WBN News – Small Business Edition | May 2, 2025

Today’s top small business stories from Canada, the U.S., and around the globe highlight rising trade tensions, growth opportunities, and urgent policy shifts. From grants and digital pivots to international shipping chaos, these are the headlines shaping the entrepreneurial economy.

📌 At A Glance

Canadian economy to shrink as tariffs tighten margins
U.S. Chamber pushes for urgent small business tariff relief
Fashion industry hit hard by global shipping slowdowns
Small-business grants open in the U.S. for May 2025
Canada’s small business employers of the year revealed

🍁 Canada – Top 5 Small Business Headlines

1. Canadian Economy to Contract in Q2 2025 as Tariffs Weigh on Small Businesses

Source: Yahoo Finance | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Tariff pressure slows small business growth and profitability across Canada.

2. Trade Commissioner Service Announces New Resources to Support Canadian Exporters Facing U.S. Tariffs

Source: Government of Canada | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Exporters can now access specialized support to navigate trade disruption.

3. May 2025: Tips to Grow Your Canadian Small Business Online

Source: CanadiansInternet.com | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Digital channels are becoming essential for a trade-constrained economy.

4. Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2025 Are Announced

Source: Yahoo Finance | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Highlights excellence, resilience, and innovation across Canadian SMEs.

5. Entrepreneurs in Canada Doubled Down on Their Scaling Ambitions

Source: RBC Newsroom | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Canadian founders are investing in growth despite external challenges.

🇺🇸 United States – Top 5 Small Business Headlines

1. White House Dismisses Chamber Push for Small Businesses Tariff Relief

Source: Reuters | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: U.S. small businesses face uncertainty as policymakers downplay tariff concerns.

2. Surviving Tariffs: 5 Steps Small Businesses Should Take Now

Source: Fortune | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: A tactical response guide for businesses impacted by supply chain disruption.

3. Small-Business Grants You Can Apply for in May 2025

Source: Washington Business Journal | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: New funding rounds from brands like DoorDash and H&R Block support recovery.

4. Small Businesses Drive the National Economy, Local Communities

Source: PR Newswire | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Reinforces the pivotal economic role of local entrepreneurs.

5. Bracing for Tariff Increases: How Will Hoboken Businesses Be Impacted?

Source: Hoboken Girl | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: A local lens on how policy decisions hit Main Street America.

🌍 International – Top 5 Small Business Headlines

1. Is This the End of Fashion’s International Shipping?

Source: Vogue Business | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Global shipping changes are shaking the foundation of e-commerce.

2. Trump Tariffs Live Updates: Administration Quietly Reaches Out to Beijing to Kick Off Tariff Talks

Source: Yahoo Finance | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Trade diplomacy could impact supply chains for SMEs globally.

3. Economic Hazards Are Piling Up. Are They One-Offs or Something Worse?

Source: The Washington Post | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Multiple economic stressors are converging—tariffs, inflation, and cybersecurity.

4. The 3 Biggest Cybersecurity Threats to Small Businesses

Source: Malwarebytes | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Digital threats are rising, especially in retail, finance, and logistics.

5. The Brief: Ins and Outs of Digitalizing Small Businesses in Emerging Markets

Source: ImpactAlpha | Date: May 1, 2025
Why It Matters: Global SMEs are leapfrogging traditional models with smart tech.

👀 Watch List – Developing Stories To Keep An Eye On

🇨🇦 Canada

Aritzia’s future outlook clouded by tariffs
Loblaw boosts local supplier count
Couche-Tard expands 7-Eleven bid
Gather Packaging opens Canadian facility
Luxe Du Jour seeks $13M for growth

🇺🇸 United States

SBA expands 'Made in America' initiative
TD Bank finds gaps in small business readiness
Veteran-owned firms pivot amid disruption
Trump’s tariffs compared to the pandemic impact
Long Island businesses gain SBA boost

🌍 International

U.S. Chamber demands tariff relief globally
GM and Harley issue tariff warnings
Digital policy shifts in the EU, APAC
Cybersecurity regulations are evolving fast
Labor Dept’s global SMB empowerment plan

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

TAGS: #5 @ 5 #Small Business News #WBN Canada #WBN USA #WBN Global #Tariff Watch #Entrepreneurship #Digital Trends #Grants And Funding #Cyber Security #SMB Resilience