Canadians fear U.S. fruit growers will flood market following Chinese tariffs

Retaliatory Chinese tariffs introduced this week on U.S. produce risk prompting American fruit growers to flood the Canadian market, causing wholesale prices to fall, says a group representing Ontario apple growers.

The Chinese government announced tariffs on Monday ranging between 15 and 25 per cent on 128 items, including fruit, nuts, pork, wine, steel pipe and aluminum scrap in retaliation for an estimated US$3 billion in U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Ontario Apple Growers general manager Kelly Ciceran says the 15-per-cent tariff on fruit such as apples, cherries, peaches, raspberries and cranberries will likely lead to more U.S. produce hitting Canadian stores.

“(Our) biggest fear is more product could be sold into Canada increasing price pressure in the Canadian market,” she said.

Ciceran said prices will depend on the degree of savings passed on to consumers by retailers.

Karl Littler of the Retail Council of Canada expects that a lengthy trade spat would force Canada’s largest grocery chains to pass along most of the cost decreases because of the fierce competition they face.

“You’d think that most of it would wash through at some point but I wouldn’t presume some immediate bonanza,” the vice-president of public affairs for the group said.

He said American growers seeking alternative markets for their Chinese exports would look northward because of the easier transportation logistics.

But Peter Hall, chief economist of Export Development Canada, said Canada is a relatively small market to absorb all the volume destined for China.