Ontario Federation of Agriculture Statement
On March 4, 2025, the United States imposed 10 per cent tariffs on energy imports from Canada and 25 per cent tariffs on all other imports from Canada. In response, Canada has imposed initial reciprocal tariffs of 25 per cent against C$30 billion in imports of goods from the U.S., effective March 4, 2025.
“This continues to be a very uncertain and fluid situation, but tariffs and resulting impacts on currency and markets will have severe negative consequences for farmers and consumers on both sides of the border.
Canada and the U.S. share one of the most significant agricultural trading relationships in the world and we cannot overstate the importance of a balanced trade position that does not harm agricultural commodities, or the deeply integrated relationship Canadian farmers have with processors and markets in the U.S.
We are working with our partners to understand what the impacts will be on our sector and encourage Canadians at every opportunity to support Ontario and Canadian products, goods, and services.”
– Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Canada exports a large part of its agricultural production around the world, ranking eighth in the world behind the U.S, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany, China, France and Spain. In 2023, Canada exported nearly $99.1 billion in agriculture and food products and approximately 60% of those exports go to the United States. More than 85% of Canada’s greenhouse vegetable production is exported and Statistics Canada data shows that 99.5% of those exports go to the United States; we also export a large part of our beef, pork and canola oil production.
Canadian agriculture also sources a significant amount of livestock feed, veterinary products, farm machinery and agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizer and crop protection products from the U.S., making the agri-food-sector tightly connected across our shared border.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture represents 38,000 farm families across the province and serves as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more.
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