One measure in the federal budget unveiled Thursday is expected to have an immediate and noticeable effect on the average Canadian consumer.

The federal government hopes that by removing tariffs on things like sporting good and baby clothes, Canadians will be able to buy those items at prices comparable to those in the United States.

At Sanction Skate and Snow in Waterloo, manager Ryan McDonough says pricing for items like snowboards is often significantly different for retailers on opposite sides of the border – at least, when the boards are imported, like top-of-the-line Austrian models.

“It’s a huge concern for us, especially when we see the suggested U.S. retail pricing compared to ours,” he tells CTV.

“Often it can be up to a 20 or 25 per cent difference.”

In theory, the government hopes the lower tariffs will lower prices for consumers, which will lead to an increase in sales as fewer Canadians head to the United States to purchase the items.

More sales also means more sales tax for government coffers.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says the tariff cuts may be expanded to other items, depending on what the initial cuts do for the Canadian economy.

“We’re going to see what happens to prices in Canada, and we’ll see if we actually see a reduction in prices,” he said.

Shopper Eric Houston says he likes the sound of the idea.

“If we can keep Canadians here and buying boards in Canada, then it’s going to help our economy,” he says.

“I think it’s a great move.”

The cuts – and, if the government gets its wish, the wheels setting lower prices in motion – go into effect April 1.

However, economists are warning that another tariff change announced in the budget may in fact lead to an increased price gap between Canada and the U.S.

According to the budget, the government plans to move 72 countries -- including China, Brazil and India -- into a higher tariff classification.

Goods imported from any of those 72 countries will be subject to a tariff increase of about three per cent by 2015.

BMO chief economist Doug Porter says due to the level of Chinese imports shipped to Canada, the higher duty may actually mean an even larger gap between prices on either side of the Canada-U.S. border.

With files from The Canadian Press