Mouthing Off | Trump tariffs trigger food fights. Consumers everywhere risk being the losers

Food politics is to the fore with Trump’s tariffs, from a ‘buy Canadian’ movement to China’s levy on US farm equipment. Where will it end?

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Canadian maple syrup is one of the products that will be affected by US trade tariffs. How will Canada, and Canadians, respond? Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:45am, 12 Feb 2025

These days, it’s very hard to separate food from politics. In fact, when disputes erupt between countries – like those triggered by the wild tariffs that US President Donald Trump is threatening to impose on what feels like everybody – bread and milk often end up on the front lines.

Trump, who some commentators say was elected because voters weren’t happy with the rising price of eggs, is stirring chaos with his continuing threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on imports from allies and neighbours Mexico and Canada, and has already enacted an extra 10 per cent tariff on goods from China.

The extra duty will not just affect the Chinese, Canadians and Mexicans, though. Most economists say Americans are going to feel the pain too.

Critics are already warning the results will drive grocery costs higher in US supermarkets. Mexico grows a lot of food, including 90 per cent of the avocados eaten in America. Tomatoes, tequila, Corona beer and fruit such as strawberries will also cost more.

Mexico exports a lot of food to the US, and 90 per cent of the avocados eaten in America come from its southern neighbour. Photo: Shutterstock

Canada supplies its southern neighbour with significant amounts of grain, livestock and meat and, of course, plenty of maple syrup.