The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) welcomes recent reports that the incoming U.S. administration plans to delay the proposed imposition of across-the-board tariffs on Canadian and Mexican exports. This measured decision provides a valuable opportunity for the Government of Canada and the fruit and vegetable sector to engage with stakeholders and underscore the benefits of fair and free intercontinental trade.

“We are cautiously optimistic about this development,” said Marcus Janzen, president of FVGC. “The pause reflects a prudent approach to trade and underscores the critical need to support growers, ensuring a resilient food production system that safeguards food security and affordable groceries for families on both sides of the border.”

The proposed tariffs, if implemented, would have destabilizing effects on Canadian agriculture, threatening $4.4 billion in annual fruit and vegetable exports to the United States. Greenhouse growers, who export up to 80 per cent of their produce to the U.S., would be particularly hard hit, while restrictions on Mexican imports could flood the Canadian market with diverted produce, creating downward pressure on prices and devastating Canadian growers.

“Our growers are a cornerstone of Canada’s food system,” said Massimo Bergamini, executive director of FVGC. “It is not just their livelihoods at stake—it’s every Canadian family’s access to fresh, high-quality food.”

The pause provides a critical window for the Government of Canada and FVGC to:

• -  Make the case for food security and the exemption of agricultural products from any tariff war.
•  
• -  Spotlight the harmful impacts tariffs would have on the agri-food sector.
•  
• -  Engage directly with American consumers to emphasize how tariffs could raise grocery prices and limit access to fresh produce.
•  
• -  Advocate with policymakers on both sides of the border to promote free and fair trade that supports the sustainability of North America’s food supply chain.

FVGC recognizes and supports the ongoing collaborative efforts of policymakers in Canada and the U.S. to secure trade policies that prioritize food security, affordability, and the competitiveness of Canadian growers. Protecting agricultural inputs and maintaining a strong, united Team Canada approach remain vital to safeguarding the food system and ensuring a sustainable future for North America’s agri-food sector.

FVGC remains steadfast in its advocacy for Canadian growers, working to ensure a sustainable and competitive future for Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector and for the families who depend on it.

Source:  Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada January 20, 2025 news release