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Concerns Rise in B.C. Agriculture Over Potential U.S. Tariffs

At Rainbow Greenhouses in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the majority of their plants are distributed within Canada, though a portion is exported to the United States. However, looming trade tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are threatening to disrupt this business model.

Rainbow Greenhouses owner, Stan Vander Waal, expressed urgency in shipping products before potential tariffs take effect in early March. “We had a bunch of shipments leaving last week and we had to say we have to get these out the door really quick because if we get a 25 per cent tariff on what we’re shipping, it basically makes that totally not profitable,” he stated. “Not only not profitable, but we lose money in a big way.”

While exporters like Vander Waal brace for increased costs due to tariffs on their products, the impact of rising import expenses could pose an even greater threat. “My concern is that as Canada, we lever these counter-tariffs now to basically try to resolve the problem. What I feel is, that affects us even more as farmers,” he said.

Vander Waal explained that inputs for farming, such as pots, plants, and fertilizers, are significantly impacted by tariffs, which for many producers outweigh the losses from export tariffs. He warned that imposing tariffs on essential import supplies could exacerbate the already challenging landscape for farmers.

Temporary Relief Amid Uncertainty

The current 30-day pause on U.S. tariffs has provided some momentary respite for B.C.’s agricultural community, but uncertainty about the future looms large. Vander Waal conveyed the anxiety felt among local farmers, stating, “Big repercussions, big concerns. We actually have family businesses very worried about what their future looks like.”

According to Vander Waal, many in the community are struggling to devise strategies to keep their enterprises afloat amid changing trade dynamics.

Encouragingly, the BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) has reported that this season’s crops are faring better than in recent years, although farmers are still grappling with financial strain. “The growers are in very tough financial shape right now. You can take a hit of one year or two years, but it’s been consistent over the last three, four years,” said BCFGA president Peter Simonsen. He highlighted the dual challenges posed by adverse weather conditions and a decline in production, further complicating farmers’ situations.

Simonsen urged consumers to support local agriculture as a means of mitigating price hikes on produce resulting from tariffs. “I think it shouldn’t affect the Canadian prices at all but it obviously, will make the American product more expensive. And so, it is a good, a good way to displace the American product,” he remarked.

Working Towards Solutions

As tension continues between countries over trade policies, Vander Waal stressed the importance of collaboration between farmers and government. “It’s really important that as government and farmers that we do have that conversation, we need to sit down and just say why did we get ourselves in this position? And secondly, what can we all do?” he said.

Emphasizing the resilience of Canadian farmers, he called for policy changes that would alleviate some of the burdens currently affective the agricultural sector. “Solution-based, people and farmers are very resilient, but we need the government to back us and change some of the, what I call, distracting policy and regulations that have actually hampered the ability for food processors that actually want to invest in Canada,” Vander Waal concluded.

Source
globalnews.ca