Canada's Anti-Tariff Labels Spark Confusion at Supermarket

Canadians attempting to boycott American products are being tripped up by confusing labeling, according to a new report, as the increasingly bitter trade war between the United States and its northern neighbor escalates.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would grant Canada and Mexico a one-month reprieve on U.S. tariffs slapped on many of the two countries' exports, exempting products that fall under a trade agreement inked during his first term in office.

On March 4, Trump had imposed 25 percent tariffs on goods produced by Canada and Mexico, sparking turmoil in the global financial markets. In separate remarks on Friday, Trump alluded to possible fresh tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products.

Doug Ford, the premier of Canada's Ontario province, is poised to place retaliatory 25 percent tariffs on Canadian electricity sent to New York, Minnesota and Michigan from the province, to take effect on Monday. The Trump administration has leveraged a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy exports not included in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau already hit the U.S. with 25 percent tariffs on more than $20 billion worth of American imports, describing the Trump administration's tariffs as "a very dumb thing to do."

The trade war has stirred up consumer resentment in Canada, prompting many buyers to avoid purchasing American products.

What To Know

Red maple leaves, associated with Canadian produce, have appeared on U.S.-made products, reported Canada's public broadcaster, CBC.

"I happened to pick up a can of soup and I saw that, even though they had red maple leaves on everything, the product was actually made in the U.S.A.," an Ontario resident, named as Jim Kreski, told the broadcaster after visiting a FreshCo supermarket.

A spokesperson for Empire, which owns FreshCo's parent company, Sobeys, said it had "responded quickly to Canadians' desire to buy Canadian, ensuring they can easily identify and choose local products on our store shelves."

"We're committed to clear and accurate labelling," the spokesperson added to Newsweek. "Our teams continually review products that meet CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Agency] definitions for Canadian products to ensure compliance with all regulations. While labelling is a manual process and occasional discrepancies may occur, we have steps in place to identify and correct them promptly."

"Buy Canadian" has become an increasingly popular mantra north of the U.S. border, as resentment at how the White House handles relations with Canada spreads and buyers look to non-U. S. products.

"I'm glad that we're getting rid of American products and supporting local businesses," Leah Russell, the manager of a pub in Toronto, told the BBC on Saturday.

Mélanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister, told CNN that Trump had shown "too much disrespect" to the U.S.'s largest trading partner, "calling us a 51st state, calling our prime minister 'governor.'"

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, an idea deeply unpopular with Canadians and rejected by Ottawa. "This is not a joke anymore," Joly told the BBC.

What People Are Saying

Canada's Finance Ministry said on March 4: "Canada will not stand by as the United States imposes unwarranted and unreasonable tariffs on Canadian goods."

The White House said on February 1 that "tariffs are a powerful, proven source of leverage for protecting the national interest."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will follow through on the tariffs due to come into force early next month, and whether further levies are heading Canada's way.

Update 3/10/25 at 12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from Empire.