{"id":16256,"date":"2025-02-11T16:11:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/canadian-grocers-pivoting-away-from-u-s-products-amid-tariff-threat-national\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T16:11:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T16:11:31","slug":"canadian-grocers-pivoting-away-from-u-s-products-amid-tariff-threat-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/canadian-grocers-pivoting-away-from-u-s-products-amid-tariff-threat-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian grocers pivoting away from U.S. products amid tariff threat – National"},"content":{"rendered":"


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With the threat of U.S. tariffs<\/a> sparking a \u201cBuy Canadian\u201d movement<\/a>, Canada\u2019s grocers are pivoting away from American products and ramping up efforts to make more local alternatives available.<\/p>\n

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It remains to be seen if U.S. President Donald Trump will slap sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods and 10 per cent tariffs on energy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Those were set to go into effect on Feb. 4 before a 30-day pause was announced last week.<\/a><\/p>\n

However, that month-long reprieve was interrupted on Monday as Trump imposed 25 per tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports coming to the United States<\/a>, including from Canada.<\/p>\n

He also on Monday\u00a0threatened a tariff of between 50 and 100 per cent on Canadian vehicles.<\/a><\/p>\n

Tariff threats from the U.S. have given rise to a wave of \u201cBuy Canadian\u201d sentiment in Canada in recent weeks, with consumers ditching U.S. products for local ones and businesses giving more prominence to local options.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Canadian grocers Metro, Sobeys and Loblaw are among those honing in on the \u201cBuy Canadian\u201d movement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the current context, we are working to optimize the visibility of local and Canadian products \u2013 in-store, online and on our various promotional tools like the weekly flyer \u2013 to make them easier to find for customers who want to prioritize them,\u201d said Stephanie Bonk, a Metro spokesperson.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will see these efforts start to roll out later this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the event of a trade war, Bonk said the company will \u201ccontinue to give priority to local Canadian products whenever possible, while ensuring customers find the products they want, according to their values, budget and preferences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOther countries might be alternatives to U.S.-sourced products if they meet our standards,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Sobeys, which is owned by Empire Company Limited, said it already has a \u201cclear and robust strategy that favours and displays local products\u201d in its stores across the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn light of recent developments, we are working to amplify this very successful local program while also accelerating the sourcing of Canadian products as alternatives to products on the tariff list,\u201d said Tshani Jaja, a Sobeys spokesperson.<\/p>\n