Trade war price impact will depend on products being fought over, Co-op exec says
Situation unclear as northern retailers watch how Canada responds to Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs
Northern retailers say it is too early to speculate on how prices may be impacted if a Canada-U.S. trade war starts. (Photo courtesy of Arctic Co-Operatives Ltd.)
The impact of a Canada-U.S. trade war on northern prices might depend on the products being fought over, says the vice-president of one of Nunavut’s biggest retailers.
Uncertainty around what either country will do if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian goods, makes it hard to predict what the effect will be on prices in the North, said Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. vice-president Duane Wilson.
Wilson noted there is currently talk of Canada imposing tariffs on imports of American liquor such as whiskey and vodka.
“If that’s where the tariffs are focused, that’s not going to have an impact at all [on Arctic Co-op prices],” he said in an interview Tuesday.
However, if there is a tariff on American orange juice, prices would go up in stores.
“If there’s a heavy import tariff placed on orange juice, there’s really no choice but to pass it on to the consumer,” Wilson said.
In that case, consumers may be forced to make decisions on substitute products, he said.
Trump, who took office Monday, has threatened to impose new 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports coming into the U.S., possibly as early as Feb. 1.
Any retaliatory tariffs Canada introduces would add to the price that companies in Canada pay to import that product. The increased cost would be passed on to the retailer, who would decide whether to absorb some or all of the loss or cover it by raising prices.
With uncertainty around both Trump’s plan and Canada’s response, North West Co. spokesperson Darryl Martin said his company, which owns Northern and Northmart stores, “continues to monitor the global economic environment” but wouldn’t speculate on how soon — or even if — prices in their stores might change as a result of retaliatory Canadian tariffs.
When federal, provincial and territorial leaders met in Ottawa last week, they promised any U.S. tariffs would immediately be met with targeted retaliatory tariffs.
In a written message Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump on his inauguration and also emphasized the importance of the economic partnership between Canada and the U.S.
“We are each other’s largest trade partners, with a relationship that creates millions of jobs, attracts billions in investment into the continent, and keeps our people safe,” he reminded Trump.
On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre agreed with the with federal government’s call for retaliatory tariffs should Trump make good on his promise.
“Canada is facing a critical challenge. On Feb. 1, we are facing the risk of unjustified 25 per cent tariffs by our largest trading partner that would have damaging consequences across our country,” Poilievre said in a written statement.
He went on to attack Trudeau’s decision to prorogue parliament until March 24. He called for the immediate return of MPs, calling the imposition of new tariffs “something that requires urgent Parliamentary consideration.”
Would Skippy then agree to consider responses to potential tariffs in Parliament before introducing a vote of no confidence? If that’s why he wants Parliament to reconvene?
No. Because all Skippy cares about is his own ego.
Not that I support the Liberals. They’ve shown their incompetence and their own reliance on gimmicks to try to stay in power. But let’s no pretend that PP is going to swoop in and make everything right.
Need, yes you dont like liberals or cons, NDP, have been running Canada for the last 4 years,yes i hope skippy does not raise the price of my pot or beer,trolls rise up we need the NDP,
NDP is a piece of junk, period. Having a Nunavut MP tied to this party has done nothing, nothing what so ever.
I’m no Trudeau supporter either, but let’s face it PP and Danielle Smith would rather kiss the ring and pledge fealty to Trump than to fight for Canadians. They are absolutely traitors to this country.
Pretty messed up that Doug Ford has become the most trustworthy Conservative Premier.
“PP and Danielle Smith would rather kiss the ring and pledge fealty… they are absolutely traitors to this country.”
These are the paranoid delusions of the modern progressive. It’s going to be a hard 4 years ahead for you.
On the contrary, Danielle Smith is probably Canada’s best bet against the Trump tariffs.
Conversely, all the macho bluster from our lame duck, semi-resigned PM and Doug Ford about “hitting back” and whatever ever other non-sense will do nothing but encourage the tarriffs.
And where is the Quebec premier in all this? Crickets. Quebec exports a whole lot of energy to New England and New York. No talk about export taxes on Quebec energy because Legault knows the feds wouldn’t dare! Alberta just wants the same treatment.
If the oranges stop going to Canada, will the price come down in the US?
Hey friends, if the price of Florida OJ is going to increase due to tariffs and appropriate profit, stop buying it. I hear no suggestion that oranges themselves are going to increase, so buy the fresh oranges and make your own juice.
Or, you know… Buy Allen’s brand apple juice, made in Canada from Canadian apples. There are other brands as well. Instead of, you know, making Trump happy by working around the tariff to still make profit for American orange producers while Canadian products are taxed at their border. Thanks for your input though, Paul.
There are many countries that grow and export oranges and other products. Check the label, if it is canadian buy first, any other country buy second, us wait 4 years the festering boil in the US white house will have been lanced.
Trump wants to buy USA, make in USA. One of the biggest and perhaps the biggest marketer of China products is Amazon. Owned by Bezos. Check the recent inauguration pics. Who are “VP Trumps: buddies, Bezos and “President Musk.”. The good thing is the big battle for power is developing within the billionaire ranks where Trump ranks as someone begging for coins.
Let Trump take the first 75km from the border and leave the rest governed by the aboriginals. If non-aboriginals choose to stay, then they will be governed by the aboriginals. All the natural resources would be governed by the aboriginals.
What a stupid idea.
“None of it” is already enough of a welfare hub. The “nunavut ledge” is incompetent.(To put it mildly)
Over the years since division some real “Monty Python” decisions have been made. 🤪😆
I remember that the “none of it” leadership trying to set up “Nunavut time zone”. Hilarious and embarrassing
Ha ha ha, Russia or china go come see you, is better with USA , hello wake up.
Here we smarten up and be on the way to better days and relations with Cuba, more of those sunny sunny beach days.
I made my reservation for Havana yesterday!
Stephen G. Why? Che is long gone, political genius, why Cuba?
At this time of year much of our fresh produce comes from the USA or Latina America (LA, not LA). There’re a few Canadian- produced greenhouse items, and a boat-load of canned and frozen fruits and veggies.
On another note, orange juice does not count as a a fruit (or vegetable). Nor does any other packaged juice. Eat an apple if you want apple ‘juice’. Or an orange if you want orange juice
And on another note, fretting about new US and Canadian tariffs is nearly the least important thing we need to worry about. Fearmongering about tariffs is just a substitute for the daily distractions and fearmongering put out by media, politicians and their handlers.
If it ain’t climate, it’ll be covid; if it ain’t covid, it’s world war; if it ain’t world war it’s gender war; if it ain’t gender war, it’s ET invasions.
Trump wants 2 things.
1. He wants Canadian resources, particularly energy, and he wants them at very low prices.
2. He wants money. He wants money to fund his promises to his voters and he wants money that will end up in his pocket..
Eveything else is bluster and distraction.
Act accordingly.
Europe’s population 800 Million with a GDP of 19 Trillion
China’s population 1.4 Billion with a GDP of 18 Trillion
North America’s population 500 Million with a GDP of 22.5 Trillion (USA,CanadaMexico)
Looking at these basic economic numbers to compete in the global economy one day North America is going to have to become united or at the very least unionize like Europe.
A North American Union or a United States of North America will not occur in our life time but it will eventually to happen due to economic and military pressure from the rest of the world.
Out societies and economies are already intertwined so much today it will just grow stronger.
The word in Canada is Canada is going to tariff the US dollar for dollar, starting with electricity, rare minerals they need for batteries, water to California, actually anything made in Canada. Our electricity is provided to many states below Ontario, for example Michigan. It is going to be bad for both countries.
Also more fentanyl comes into Canada from the US than vice versa