Retaliatory tariffs against U.S. imports are set to go into effect on July 1, but Ottawa’s move to tax specific food products could help Canadian producers boost their market share while minimizing the price impact on consumers here.
The government will impose tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on food products such as strawberry jam, gherkins and chocolate. Also on the list are circuit boards, toilet paper, motorboats and other goods.
Canada’s dairy and poultry industries are protected by tariffs of 150 per cent to 300 per cent.CHRISTINNE MUSCHI/REUTERS
The tariffs on food are not expected to increase prices for Canadian shoppers significantly, and those who do not want to pay more will likely be able to find alternatives produced in Canada.
Sylvain Charlebois, a professor specializing in food policy at Dalhousie University, said many of the products are already manufactured in Canada, while others can be sourced from other trade partners.
“You can easily find a Canadian substitute for every American food product targeted by Ottawa,” Mr. Charlebois said.
Although Canadians might not feel too much impact from the tariffs at first, as the 10-per-cent levy on the listed food products is still moderate, Mr. Charlebois said a price impact could come if the trade war rages on and higher tariffs or embargoes produce a noticeable difference at the checkout.
“What’s interesting is, in some cases, Ottawa is almost encouraging some sectors to redefine their business model and to give opportunity for some investors to look at processing.”
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Mustard is one of those products. Mr. Charlebois said Canada is one of the largest exporters of the condiment, but buys it back at a much higher price after it has been packaged in the United States.
He says the tariff could present an opportunity for Canadian businesses to put the mustard in jars and sell it themselves.
Maple syrup and chocolate are two other products that are widely produced in Canada, meaning domestic manufacturers could also benefit.
“[Americans] heavily subsidize their maple-syrup production, giving an unfair advantage to American producers,” Mr. Charlebois said. The tariff will add to the U.S. manufacturers’ costs, making the Canadian product more competitive.
“By slapping a tariff on American producers, then all of a sudden you’re giving a chance for Canadian producers to sell their product.”
Canada imports hundreds of millions of dollars worth of some of these products every year. In 2017, Canada imported $842-million worth of sauces and condiments, $525-million in coffee, and $459-million in chocolate and candy.
Trade values of products
subject to tariff
Customs basis, 2017,
in millions of dollars**
2017 Canadian
trade value
Importing country - U.S.
Tariff
Steel products
25%
$7,205
Aluminum products
10
9,196
Total
$16,401
Importing country - Canada
Steel products
25
$6,287
Aluminum products
10
3,008
Circuit boards
10
1,040
Sauces and condiments
10
842
Thermostats
10
726
Toilet paper
10
670
Household appliances
10
612
Motorboats
10
609
Coffee
10
525
Chocolate and candy
10
459
Plastic bags
10
447
Plastic household articles
10
343
Upholstered wooden seats
10
327
Lawnmowers
10
301
Coated and uncoated paper
10
286
Flavoured water
10
253
Skin creams
10
229
Soups
10
204
Water heaters
10
175
Beef
10
170
Orange juice
10
165
Cans of iron or steel
10
157
Dishwasher detergents
10
121
Room deodorizers
10
121
Pizza and quiche
10
119
Other
10
1,236
Total
$19,432
**Poduct descriptions are illustrative and do not
necessarily reflect official Harmonized
System nomenclature.
JOHN SOPINSKI/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
SOURCE: statistics canada
Trade values of products
subject to tariff
Customs basis, 2017, in millions of dollars**
Importing country - U.S.
Tariff
2017 Cnd. trade value
Steel products
25%
$7,205
Aluminum products
10
9,196
Total
$16,401
Importing country - Canada
Steel products
25
$6,287
Aluminum products
10
3,008
Circuit boards
10
1,040
Sauces and condiments
10
842
Thermostats
10
726
Toilet paper
10
670
Household appliances
10
612
Motorboats
10
609
Coffee
10
525
Chocolate and candy
10
459
Plastic bags
10
447
Plastic household articles
10
343
Upholstered wooden seats
10
327
Lawnmowers
10
301
Coated and uncoated paper
10
286
Flavoured water
10
253
Skin creams
10
229
Soups
10
204
Water heaters
10
175
Beef
10
170
Orange juice
10
165
Cans of iron or steel
10
157
Dishwasher detergents
10
121
Room deodorizers
10
121
Pizza and quiche
10
119
Other
10
1,236
Total
$19,432
**Poduct descriptions are illustrative and do not necessarily reflect
official Harmonized System nomenclature.
JOHN SOPINSKI/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
SOURCE: statistics canada
Trade values of products subject to tariff
Customs basis, 2017, in millions of dollars**
Importing country - U.S.
Tariff
2017 Canadian trade value
Steel products
25%
$7,205
Aluminum products
10
9,196
Total
$16,401
Importing country - Canada
Steel products
25
$6,287
Aluminum products
10
3,008
Circuit boards
10
1,040
Sauces and condiments
10
842
Thermostats
10
726
Toilet paper
10
670
Household appliances
10
612
Motorboats
10
609
Coffee
10
525
Chocolate and candy
10
459
Plastic bags
10
447
Plastic household articles
10
343
Upholstered wooden seats
10
327
Lawnmowers
10
301
Coated and uncoated paper
10
286
Flavoured water
10
253
Skin creams
10
229
Soups
10
204
Water heaters
10
175
Beef
10
170
Orange juice
10
165
Cans of iron or steel
10
157
Dishwasher detergents
10
121
Room deodorizers
10
121
Pizza and quiche
10
119
Other
10
1,236
Total
$19,432
**Poduct descriptions are illustrative and do not necessarily reflect official Harmonized
System nomenclature.
JOHN SOPINSKI/THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: statistics canada
Some of the products Canadian consumers rely on, such as fruits and vegetables, which make up nearly $800-million in imports, were not included in the tariffs. Mr. Charlebois says that is a measured move by the Canadian government to not compromise food security by raising the cost of some of the most-needed products.
The government still imposed tariffs on orange juice, one of Florida’s best-known exports, and cucumbers, which come mainly from Wisconsin. The two products were chosen to put pressure on legislators running in the upcoming midterm elections in the United States.
Salmaan Farooqui