Some Islanders involved in the agriculture industry are concerned about U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports to his country. Prince Edward Island (PEI) potato producers say it would hurt their business — but it would also mean many Americans would pay more for their spuds and French fries, as Tony Davis reports for the CBC.
“I think it could be pretty devastating for P.E.I. producers,” said Randy Visser, who runs G. Visser and Sons. He sends about three-quarters of the potatoes his company grows to customers south of the border.
Earlier this week, Trump said he would act on his Jan. 20 inauguration day to impose 25 per cent tariffs on goods from both Canada and Mexico unless those countries take action to curb the flow of migrants and drugs like fentanyl crossing their borders into the U.S.
Last year, almost 80 per cent of international exports from P.E.I. were shipped to the U.S., representing $1.8 billion in trade. The top two exported products were frozen potato products and fresh potatoes.
“The U.S. is our top export market, so anything that could impact that is obviously a concern to potato farmers and our packers and our processors,” said Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board.
Source: CBC. Full story here
Image: ‘I think it could be pretty devastating for P.E.I. producers,’ says Randy Visser, who runs G. Visser and Sons. Photo credit Laura Meader/CBC
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