By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Industries and sectors across the U.S. are preparing for the impacts of 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States. The new tariffs could create a sticky situation for maple syrup lovers.
It’s no secret that trade tensions are running especially hot between the United States and Canada.
“Canada has been ripping us off for years,” said President Trump when recently answering tariff questions from reporters in the Oval Office.
“Donald Trump, as we know, has put- as the prime minister just said- unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living,” said Mark Carney, who will soon succeed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party.
The new tariffs are prompting industries that rely on steel and aluminum to brace for rising costs. The tariff tit-for-tat with Canada could also create a sticky situation for maple syrup lovers.
“Any tariff on that maple syrup would then probably increase the price of maple syrup for consumers in the grocery stores,” said Adam Wild, director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest and co-director of the Cornell Maple Program.
Wild specializes in research and sustainability in the maple industry. He says Canada and the maple industry go hand-in-hand. Maple is not only a symbol of pride for our neighbors to the north, it’s also a major export of theirs.
Globally, about 75% of maple syrup comes from Canada. It contributes $1 billion CAD ($693,400,000 USD) to the Canadian economy. Roughly 60% of Canada’s maple syrup is imported by the U.S.
“The United States doesn’t produce enough maple syrup to meet the consumer demand across the United States, so that maple supply out of Canada is important,” said Wild.
Additionally, American producers, who make up a more than $200 million U.S. maple syrup industry, rely on special equipment that largely comes from Canada.
“Stainless steel is the most common, that’s used for tanks and our evaporators and things like that,” said Wild.
With higher equipment costs comes higher production costs, which could ultimately leave breakfast lovers paying the difference.
But it’s not all bad news for the future of maple syrup in the U.S.
Wild says American producers will likely see higher demand if buyers look for alternative options.
“If we do see an increase in costs for them to buy syrup out of Canada, they’re probably more willing to pay a little bit more for syrup out of the United States. So that is one potential thing that could help the maple producers,” said Wild.
Earlier today, President Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European wine and spirits if the European Union moves forward with a planned tariff on American whiskey.
