Tariff expert launches consulting firm amid global trade shifts

Kyle Peacock has spent decades preparing for this moment, and it couldn’t come at a more opportune time.

The Orillia-born trade expert has officially launched Peacock Tariff Consulting, a new firm focused on helping businesses and individuals navigate the once-overlooked but increasingly critical world of international tariffs and duties.

Backed by a career in global supply chain management and a degree in international trade, Peacock returns to his roots with an ambition to fill a long-standing gap in local business services.

“It’s been a lifelong passion,” said Peacock. “I went to school for this, and for years I tried explaining it to my parents — they didn’t quite get it. But now, tariffs are in the headlines, and suddenly I’m the family expert.”

He traces that passion all the way back to childhood.

“I think I got my start very early on, when we would go on family vacations as kids,” Peacock recalled. “My father would drive and I would be in charge of the map, and I remember my father always quizzing me about what cities were coming up, what landmarks were coming up and how many different ways there were to get to these places.” 

Peacock says it challenged him to “think outside the box” to accomplish tasks. It gave him the focus to overcome roadblocks and challenges. 

“Sometimes it just takes creative thinking — that is what has made me so successful in my career thus far,” he said. “I’d like to thank my father for all that he has taught me throughout the years.”

Peacock grew up in Orillia before leaving to pursue post-secondary studies in business and international trade. He later completed a postgraduate diploma in global supply chain management and built a career that took him abroad and into major markets like Toronto.

“I was so lucky to be born and raised in such a great place — small-town Orillia — that allowed me to build a foundation to build upon and look outside and continue to increase my borders,” he said. 

After gaining years of experience and watching the global trade landscape shift dramatically, he’s returned to Orillia to launch the kind of firm he says the region has long needed.

“Tariffs have always existed, but they used to be slow-moving and just factored into the cost of doing business,” he explained. “That’s changed. Now trade rules can shift overnight, and if you’re not on top of them, you could lose your entire margin.”

The new firm is expected to open its doors in mid-June with an office on Mississaga Street in the heart of downtown Orillia — and it’s arriving at a time when demand for tariff expertise has never been higher.

Peacock said that in the past, most companies relied on a single trusted supplier. But global disruptions — from COVID-19 to international conflicts to shifting trade agreements — have forced a new reality. Businesses are now turning to multisourcing and what he calls “microsourcing,” building supply chains that can adapt on short notice to price changes, shipping costs, and international tariffs.

Ocean freight costs from the Far East to North America, for example, have jumped by as much as 70 per cent. Retailers are feeling the squeeze, as increased tariffs are passed on to consumers and sometimes entirely gut profit margins. More than ever, companies are looking for structure, strategy, and expert support to keep pace.

Peacock Tariff Consulting provides exactly that, starting with strategic planning services designed to help clients anticipate, avoid, and manage the impact of shifting trade policies. The firm helps clients assess risks, develop contingency plans, and explore alternative sourcing options to reduce dependency on tariff-heavy regions. For some businesses, that means connecting with suppliers in different countries. For others, it’s about finding ways to restructure the flow of goods through more cost-effective routes.

The firm also engages with policymakers and trade associations to help advocate for exemptions and favourable classifications while offering clients guidance on how to adjust financial plans, pricing, and operational structures to stay competitive in volatile global markets. Strategic planning also includes tariff engineering and internal process improvements to help businesses qualify for reduced-duty classifications where possible.

One of the most critical services Peacock offers is tariff and commodity review. This involves a deep analysis of product classification under the Harmonized System (HS) code framework. A seemingly minor detail — such as the way a product’s function or materials are described — can change dramatically alter the applicable duty rate. 

Commodity classification services also include valuation of goods, reviews under free trade agreements, and confirmation that imports meet necessary regulatory and licensing requirements. It’s a service that helps businesses stay competitive and avoid the risks associated with misclassification, which can lead to fines or overpayments that accumulate over time.

Tariff refunds are another growing focus of the firm’s work. Similar to tax returns, many importers are eligible to reclaim duties they’ve overpaid due to rate changes, misclassifications, or exemptions that weren’t applied.

In Canada, businesses can seek refunds through the CBSA’s Form B2 process. In the U.S., it might come through post-summary corrections or Section 301 exclusions. Peacock’s team helps clients determine eligibility, prepare documentation, and follow through with government authorities to recover the funds, often retroactively for up to four years. If the refund is approved, the firm takes a small percentage as its service fee.

While the majority of Peacock’s work is focused on business clients, he says individuals are increasingly seeking help as well. He’s worked with Canadians who’ve been charged unexpected duties on personal orders from the U.S. and overseas, especially through couriers like DHL and UPS, who often apply fees up front at the door. In many cases, Peacock says, those charges are negotiable or refundable — but most consumers don’t know where to start.

Education is at the core of what Peacock hopes to bring to the region. His firm doesn’t require long-term contracts and avoids rigid processes that often lock clients into standard solutions. Whether it’s a first-time importer or an established company seeking a fresh approach, Peacock Tariff Consulting is built to be agile, responsive, and transparent.

“We get calls like, ‘Trump’s saying there’s going to be a 50 per cent tariff tomorrow. What do we do?’” Peacock said. “For some, the answer is order now. For others, it’s stay the course. We give that expert advice — fast — so people aren’t making expensive decisions out of panic or confusion.”

Though his eyes are on global markets, Peacock says his heart is rooted firmly in Orillia. His great-uncle, Stanley Peacock, died in 1943 while working aboard a naval vessel at Hunter Boats during the Second World War. His grandparents immigrated from England and made Orillia their home.

“It was a no-brainer to start this business here,” he said. “It’s a dynamic region, and with institutions like Lakehead expanding, there’s so much potential.”

Until the downtown office opens later this June, Peacock Tariff Consulting can be reached online.

For Peacock, this is more than a business — it’s a return to the community that shaped him, a chance to fill a growing economic need, and the culmination of a mindset that started with family road trips, paper maps, and the encouragement of a father who taught him to always look for the next route forward.

“Global trade isn’t going away,” he said. “It’s more important than ever to be informed — so you’re not caught off guard, and not left behind.”