OTTAWA- As the honey production season reaches its peak, prairie beekeepers in Canada are bracing for the potential fallout of a looming trade dispute. Canadian honey, previously protected under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), is among the products threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 50 per cent tariffs. Simon Lalonde, a Saskatchewan beekeeper and president of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, expressed surprise over the decision, noting that Canadian imports account for only about two per cent of all honey imported by the United States.
Despite making up a small fraction of total U.S. imports, the American market is critical to the Canadian honey sector. Sales to the U.S. represent roughly 60 per cent of Canada’s honey exports, bringing in nearly $30 million last year. Rod Scarlett, Executive Director of the Canadian Honey Council, warned that a 50 per cent tariff would effectively shut down access to the U.S. market, forcing many operations into failure due to a lack of viable alternative buyers. While the industry is attempting to diversify into international markets, expanding beyond the domestic market and secondary buyers like Japan remains a significant challenge.
The trade threat arrives as Canadian beekeepers already contend with low market prices and parasite infestations. Industry leaders warn that losing access to the U.S. will drive down honey prices further, impacting not only beekeepers but the broader agricultural sector. Beyond direct honey sales worth $200 to $300 million annually, bee pollination contributes an estimated $7 to $8 billion to Canadian agriculture. Beekeepers are currently focusing on completing their harvest before shifting attention to managing the potential trade implications.
