For Hans Lindenmann of Trillium Meadows Heritage Pigs and Red Deer Farm, the Ottawa Farmers Market is one of his busiest days for selling pork and other meats.
About 90 per cent of his sales come from the market, but with tariffs on the horizon, he says uncertainty surrounds the agriculture sector and could cost him more if he’s forced to increase prices.
“I really hope its not going to happen because I have really good support here and I’m sure people are going to support us, but you just don’t know,” Lindenmann said.
While it’s still unclear if tariffs will impact him directly, it could be a massive hit for farmers across the country, with China implementing a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and peas, along with a 25 per cent tariff on pork and aquatic products.
Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs on select Canadian farm imports in response to Canadian duties levied back in the fall against Chinese-made electric vehicles, as well as steel and aluminum products.
Lindenmann says he doesn’t expect prices to fluctuate too much because of tariffs specifically, but increased costs of equipment and parts sourced from the U.S. could set him back.
“The machines, new machines, it’s crazy expensive. When your tractor breaks down, fixing it and the part, it’s crazy, they have tariffs on parts and now it’s going to increase even more. That’s insane.” Lindenmann says.
The new tariffs against Canadian agricultural products are expected to kick in on March 20 and widening Canada’s ongoing trade problems as the country seeks to beat back U.S. President Donald Trump’s stop-and-go tariffs.
As he waits to see how things will unfold, Lindenmann is looking to the federal government to open interprovincial trade barriers with Quebec to help expand the markets.
“I hope it springs Canada together, I hope that they remove the barriers between the provinces,” he said. “That would be a good thing, it’s a weird feeling, people are uncertain what to do.”
He adds sales usually take a dip in the winter, that hasn’t been the case this year. He adds he’s built up a good client base since the pandemic, when sales were at its peak.
He expect them to remain the same through these trying times.
“I really hope it’s not going to come. I really hope they’re going to stop doing that because people don’t like the uncertainty, it’s a crazy time.”
