Ontario industry still anxious over potential ‘devastating’ impact of Trump tariffs, despite reprieve [Video]

For Ontario farmers relieved by the pause of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, there still remains significant anxiety over planning for the rest of this year’s season and into the next.

“Really the challenge is around the uncertainty,” said Drew Spoelstra, a Binbrook, Ont., farmer and president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

The province’s agriculture industry exports meat and other animal products, livestock and most of its greenhouse produce to the U.S.

“When we don’t know what our markets are going to be in July or September, it is difficult to plan ahead and keep our operations as well thought out as possible.”

And if the tariffs eventually do go through?

“If these products ultimately stop moving because of the affordability of those things in the United States, that’s going to have a devastating impact to our farmers here in Ontario,” Spoelstra said.