Expect a hike in your grocery bill during the trade war

Experts warn Canadians will see higher grocery costs as tariffs impact imported food.

While its uncertain what will be included in Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, life is about to get more expensive for Canadians. Especially when it comes to crossing off their grocery lists.

From California oranges to green onions, these are items that could be subject to retaliatory taxes. There are looming price hikes at the grocery store and some customers at Esposito in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood say it will change their shopping habits.

“Well, I’m sure I’ll be looking for products that are not affected by the tariffs,” said Rebecca Million.

While another customer, Joan, said, “I’m sure there’s going to be some things that I just won’t buy anymore.”

Experts say food imported from the United States will be more expensive and Canadians will feel the impact at the checkout quickly.

“The food we import from the U.S. will be relatively more expensive,” said McGill University Agricultural Economist Pascal Thériault.

“So that means that consumers will probably see quite fast an increase in price for vegetables or fruits, because right now we rely quite a bit on California, Florida and the southern states to get our fresh vegetables.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says tariffs are also a big concern for companies exporting to the United States.

“The impact will be felt across the board. A lot of our agriculture products are sent to the U.S.” said Jasmin Guénette vice-president, National Affairs at the CFIB.

Amid the trade war, there are calls to boycott American goods and look for products with a maple leaf.

“I will try to buy Canadian as they say, but it’s not always that easy and we don’t do everything in Canada. I mean that’s why we have trade,” said another Esposito customer, Mary Poland.

There are exclusive Canadian chip flavours and Quebec companies make sweet treats, but Thériault says its extremely difficult to boycott American products because of our complex food system.

“So, we could very well have a Canadian company that is packaging food products where ingredients come from the U.S., in which case we’re still buying American products,” he said.

As shoppers push their carts down the aisles, they say they will just have to pay more attention if they want to save in these uncertain times.