With the United States threatening to place 25% tariffs on Canada, many Canadians are worried about rising prices. This has led people to start buying local, or Canada-made products. Continue reading to learn about how tariffs might affect the average Canadian and how you can begin shopping local.

What is a tariff?

Tariffs are taxes placed on goods made overseas that are imported into the country. The buyer or seller is responsible for paying these tariffs. If you shop online and your order comes from another country, you will likely be charged tariffs (also called duties). If the United States places 25% tariffs on Canada, this means American-made products will become more expensive. Here’s a list of items that you might notice go up in price:

• Food and drinks
• Cars
• Gas
• Clothing and footwear
• Makeup
• Homewares, furniture, and appliances
• Lumber
• Paper

What is Manitoba doing?

Many provinces have responded to the tariffs in different ways. In Manitoba, premier Wab Kinew said he would remove any American-made alcohol from liquor stores. He also made an ad campaign to help promote local-made products in stores. The campaign also includes a website that helps consumers to support Manitoba businesses and local products: Support Manitoba. Buy Local.

Why shop Canadian?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and many other politicians have spoken about the importance of shopping Canadian. This trend has taken on, and some Canadians are boycotting U.S products altogether. Shopping local is more important than ever right now. Here are some important reasons:

• If you shop local, more money will remain in your local community.
• This helps create jobs, keep neighborhoods healthy, and helps the Canadian economy.
• Canadian-made products have a reputation for being better quality and ethically produced.
• It’s better for the environment to buy something made in your community rather than a product imported from another country.

“Made in Canada” versus “Product of Canada”

When trying to shop Canadian, it can get confusing with all the different labels. For example, some products might say “Made in Canada” while others say “Product of Canada.” The difference is how much Canadian content is in each product:

• Made in Canada – This means about half the product is made from imported goods. For example, Lays potato chips are owned by PepsiCo, which is an American company. However, they are made with Canadian potatoes.
• Product of Canada – This means at least 98% of the ingredients are Canadian and processed in Canada.

Watch out for products with a Canadian flag symbol. This just means it follows the Made in Canada label standards. The best thing you can do is check the label to see if it has a Canadian address. Watch the video below to know what else to watch out for. Also read How to Know if Food is Canadian – Understanding Canada’s Food Labelling System, from Home and Family to learn more about Canada’s food label requirements:

Want to buy Canadian? Here’s what to look for on the label, Global News

You can also download these free Canada-made apps on your smart phone for easy scanning of products: Shop Canadian (Google Play) and O SCANada (App Store). These apps allow you to simply type the name of the product or scan the product barcode, and the app will tell you if it’s Canada-made or a product of Canada. O SCANada even provides local alternatives when the product is imported. Just bear in mind that these apps are in development – they may not have all the products in their databases yet.

What are some common Canadian products?

Products like dairy, beef, chicken, and pork are most likely made locally or from Canada. Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and beets are also easy to find Canadian. A major part of Canadian agriculture is grains like wheat, oats, and lentils. Expect to find lots of these Canadian products in grocery stores as well.

What products are not going to be Canadian?

Tropical foods like fruit usually come from down south. These are likely going to be American or made in Mexico. Many packaged snacks and processed foods are also made in the United States. Expect the prices for these products to go up.

Tips for supporting local

• Check out the store Good Local either in person at 223 McDermot Avenue or online. This store carries all locally-made Manitoba products. They also do deliveries.
• Get to know local businesses in your area such as stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Follow them on social media to stay updated. Many businesses offer discounts on their social media.
• Become a local tourist. Canada is a beautiful country, and there are many places to see and things to do. Check out Travel Manitoba to get some ideas on what to do.
• Many grocery stores now have signs that say if the product is made locally. Keep your eye out for these signs when you’re shopping.
• Buying local can be challenging in the winter since more products have to be imported. Check out the website Made in Canada to find products made in Canada.

 
By Alexis Ogaranko
 
Sources: What does ‘Made in Canada’ even mean? Here’s how to identify truly Canadian products, Laura Brehaut, National Post; Manitoba launches ad campaign to encourage residents to buy local amid trade tensions with U.S, Arturo Chang, CBC; How new tariffs could affect Canadian businesses, Doane Grant Thornton LLP; ‘Made in Canada’ vs. ‘Product of Canada’ — What’s the difference? Kevin Maimann, CBC; and Why shopping Canadian small businesses matters now more than ever, Marco Tsang, Vintage Noon Skin. Accessed February,2025.