Restaurants Canada backs Canada’s new retaliatory tariff measures

Restaurants Canada said in a statement that it stands with the Canadian government in defending Canadian economic interests and responding to the latest U.S. tariffs.

In a statement, Restaurant Canada said: “We are pleased that the proposed measures avoid many of the priority food products we identified to government based on member input. This will help limit additional pressure on food costs and menu prices and protect jobs and Canada’s food supply chain.”

It continued: “Our review has also identified areas of concern, including some packaging and restaurant equipment, and we are assessing the potential impact of other products included in the proposed measures. We will use the consultation period to seek targeted exemptions where sufficient Canadian or alternative supply is not available.”

Restaurants Canada also said that it encourages the government “to consider other measures to help Canadians and businesses manage the economic pressures arising from the trade dispute, including extending the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel beyond September 7.”

“Our objective is to help ensure Canada’s response is targeted and effective, with careful consideration of the impact on food costs, Canada’s food supply chain, jobs and investment. Canada’s $125-billion restaurant industry directly employs 1.2 million Canadians, nearly 40% of whom are youth, and supports another 287,000 jobs across the economy,” Restaurants Canada said.

And it continued: “Restaurants purchase approximately $43 billion in food and beverages each year, including roughly $30 billion from Canadian suppliers, making the sector a major purchaser of Canadian agricultural products and an important contributor to the broader Canadian food economy.”

Kelly Higginson, President and CEO at Restaurants Canada, made it clear that: “Restaurants are behind the government in standing up for Canada in this trade fight. We appreciate that it has listened to the concerns raised by our industry and avoided tariffs on many of the priority food products we identified.”

And Higginson continued: “There are still some important issues to address, and we will continue working with government to get those right. Our focus is on ensuring Canada’s response is as targeted and effective as possible, recognizing the impact these decisions can have on Canadian businesses, jobs, communities and consumers.”

Go to www.restaurantscanada.org for more.

Photo from Restaurants Canada website