It’s important to briefly cover what import tariffs are, so that we can better understand their role in the food supply. Import tariffs are a type of tax imposed on products entering a country, with the usual intention of discouraging imports in order to encourage domestic industries.
These can apply to specific industries and product categories, or to all products in general, and also to certain countries from which the products come. So far, Trump’s import tariffs are planned to be applied to all imported products from most countries, but especially those from Canada, Mexico, and China, with varying tax percentages being proposed.
This will affect the U.S. food supply, and the American diet, in numerous ways. First, the U.S. imports many different types of produce and seafood from other countries, simply because we do not have the right climates for growing such products, and also due to cheaper labor costs in other countries. Among the notable products imported are: various fruits and vegetables from Mexico; apple juice, tilapia, and cod from China; and a small amount of wheat from both Canada and Europe.
These products will be more expensive due to either lower supply at stores, or same supply, and increased prices, at the store. The biggest potential consequence this will all have on the American diet is simply a decreased consumption of produce and seafood due to the increased prices, especially when one considers the other economic struggles encountered by many Americans, such as inflation, and a worsening job market.
Mark Jensen earned his a B.S. in Food Science and M.S. in Management from the University of Florida. He previously served as a Research & Development Technician at Planeteers and a Quality Assurance Technician at Carl Buddig & Company.
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