Canadian producers fear U.S. will flood market after Chinese tariffs

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press</span>
Published Tuesday, April 3, 2018 4:07PM EDT

MONTREAL -- 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 in an interview.

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.

He said the tariffs could open the door for Canada to export more goods to China, which is experiencing growing demand for pork and other products.

Glen Lucas, general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association, said the Chinese tariffs will be disruptive but is hopeful that American efforts over the last 20 years to develop export markets will prompt Americans to sell more to other markets.

"I think it'll just cause market confusion and a lot of hassle for the producers to figure out where the products are flowing," he said.

The Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario CEO Aaron Dobbin said there may be an opportunity for some Canadian wine to be sold to China, but additional U.S. wine could also be shipped to Canada.

He said the United States has a $450-million trade surplus with Canada on wine and is always looking to increase its market share.

"We're always worried about it," he said of more American exports. "We've been competing with the Americans basically since the original NAFTA deal, so competing with them domestically is not something new for us."

The Canadian Pork Council said producers aren't expecting a big impact from the 25 per cent Chinese tariffs because there is a lot of pork available around the world.

Executive director John Ross said tariffs could change flows of exports but is unlikely to have an impact on prices.

"The way that the Canadian and U.S. markets are integrated we're not seeing a lot of great opportunities showing up because of tariff changes as they affect the United States."

He added that fresh Canadian pork isn't currently permitted into China and some cuts of meat favoured in that country, such as pig feet, aren't very popular with Canadian consumers.

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