Last month, the U.S. announced it would impose a new round of tariffs on Canadian products, including ones previously protected under CUSMA, on August 19. As the Government of Canada continues discussions with U.S. counterparts ahead of the deadline, the Restaurants Canada team has been engaged with Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, outlining our industry’s concerns, incorporating data and research from the previous round of retaliatory tariffs and the significant impact on our sector, our suppliers, and Canadians.
Restaurants Canada stands behind the government's efforts to secure a strong outcome for Canadian businesses through the renewal of CUSMA. However, based on the impacts of last year’s retaliatory tariffs, which cost our industry an estimated $100 million per month in added costs, we are urging the government to avoid imposing retaliatory tariffs on food products as part of its response to U.S. tariffs.
We will continue advocating on your behalf, monitoring the situation and keeping you updated on any progress.
Consultation on Interprovincial Trade Barriers
Recently, I brought the restaurant industry's voice to federal and provincial Ministers and officials at a round table consultation, making the case for reducing interprovincial trade barriers and the real impact these barriers have on our sector.
When we engage with government, we lead with who we are—and the numbers speak for themselves. Our industry welcomes 23.7 million customer visits every day, generates $125 billion in annual sales, contributes nearly 4% of Canada's GDP, and employs 1.2 million Canadians, making restaurants Canada's fourth-largest private-sector employer. We also purchase more than half of Canada's agricultural production, making our sector an essential partner for Canadian farmers, food processors, and distributors from coast to coast.
Many of our members serve customers across provincial boundaries. The challenge is delivering the same restaurant experience efficiently and profitably across the country while navigating multiple provincial regulatory systems. Reducing interprovincial trade barriers is an opportunity not to lower standards, but to better recognize equivalent regulatory outcomes for food safety, environmental protection, and consumer confidence—without the unnecessary duplication that adds cost and complexity for operators.
That economic weight matters, and we are using it to push for real, practical change on four fronts:
Food Safety Harmonization — We are pressing for mutual recognition of food safety certifications, inspections, and regulatory requirements across provinces. Right now, duplicative compliance obligations are costing operators time and money with no benefit to food safety outcomes.
Environmental Regulatory Consistency — EPR programs, packaging requirements, and reporting obligations vary widely across jurisdictions, creating unnecessary administrative burden. We are advocating for greater national alignment so that operators aren't navigating a different rulebook in every province.
A Stronger Domestic Food Market — Canada's internal trade barriers on food and beverage products—including alcohol for licensed operators—are holding our industry back. Removing these barriers strengthens the entire food system, from producers and processors to the restaurants that serve Canadians every day.
National Franchise Disclosure Template — For franchise operators, province-by-province legal reviews are costly and time-consuming. We are advocating for a single national template, with only narrow jurisdiction-specific additions, so that one legal review can support expansion across the country.
As Canada and the provinces make meaningful strides in modernizing internal trade and unlocking the full potential of our economy, we remain committed to ensuring restaurants have a seat at the table and that our members can benefit from these new opportunities.