Canada-U.S. trade dispute: What it means for restaurant operators

24 août 2026 Share on your social channels

The breakdown of trade negotiations with the United States and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs have created another period of uncertainty for Canadian businesses, including restaurants.

Restaurants Canada supports the Government of Canada as it works to defend Canadian businesses, workers and our economy. We are disappointed that an agreement with the U.S. could not be reached and recognize the significant efforts of Canada’s negotiating team.

Our team has remained closely engaged throughout these developments. In the days leading up to the tariff deadline, we participated in stakeholder briefings with key officials. Since negotiations broke down, we have been in direct contact with senior federal officials responsible for Finance, Canada–U.S. trade, Agriculture and Global Affairs.

To strengthen these efforts, we have reactivated our Trade and Tariff Working Group. The group provided valuable intelligence during previous tariff and retaliatory tariff challenges affecting our sector and will once again give us timely access to critical insights that support our advocacy.

As Canada’s fourth-largest employer, largest purchaser of Canadian agricultural products, a significant economic driver, and an essential part of the country’s food system, restaurants have a critical stake in what comes next.

Our focus is clear: ensuring the restaurant industry and the broader food supply chain are fully considered as Canada develops its response. We are working with government to identify products that are particularly important to restaurant operations and where additional tariffs could create significant costs or supply challenges. We are also advocating to ensure that restaurants are considered in measures designed to help Canadian businesses manage the effects of the trade dispute.

Restaurants are not only a major employer and economic driver; we are an essential part of Canada’s food system. Measures that increase costs throughout the food supply chain ultimately affect restaurant operators and food affordability for Canadians. That perspective is central to the case we are making to government.

As details of Canada’s response are finalized, Restaurants Canada will remain closely engaged with federal officials, advocating on behalf of operators while supporting Canada’s broader efforts to defend our economy. We will continue to keep you informed as developments unfold.

Help Restaurants Canada advocate on your behalf

When Restaurants Canada meets with governments, one of the most powerful tools we can bring to the table is your voice — backed by real data. Your survey responses help us show decision-makers what’s actually happening in restaurants: the pressures you’re facing, the choices you’re making, and what needs to change to help your business succeed.

The more operators who participate in our surveys, the stronger our message becomes.

Please take a few minutes to fill out our latest survey, which should be in your inbox. Your experience becomes our evidence, and your input helps us advocate on your behalf.

Announcing the 2026 Awards of Excellence winners

Restaurants Canada was thrilled to announce the 2026 Winners of our Awards of Excellence on August 13. The Awards of Excellence celebrate the leaders and changemakers behind Canada’s foodservice industry—and the vision, dedication and impact strengthening restaurants and communities across the country.

This year’s winners are:

Leadership Award of Excellence (Presented by PepsiCo Canada): Hemant Bhagwani, Chef and Restaurateur, Toronto
Emerging Leader Award of Excellence (Presented by Groupex Canada): Jessica Kwon, Head Chef, Cactus Club Cafe, Richmond, B.C.
Culinary Award of Excellence (Presented by Garland Canada): Emily Butcher, Executive Chef and Owner, Nola and Bar Accanto, Winnipeg
Social Impact Award of Excellence (Presented by Air Canada): McDonald’s Canada
Legacy Award of Excellence (Presented by Restaurants Canada): Jim Treliving, Chairman and Owner, Boston Pizza International
Environmental Stewardship Award of Recognition (Presented by Olymel): Odla Restaurant, Saskatoon

Read the complete announcement for more details on each winner’s contributions. The 2026 Awards of Excellence winners will be honoured at One Table on Sept. 29, 2026, at The Warehouse Event Venue in North York, where the industry will gather to celebrate the people and organizations shaping the future of Canadian foodservice.

Advocacy update

In addition to our focus on Canada-U.S. trade as outlined above, Restaurants Canada has remained actively engaged in advocacy with governments across the country over the summer months on a range of industry priorities. I was in Ottawa recently to meet with the Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for a frank and constructive discussion about the labour needs of our industry, and the important role that immigration plays, including addressing immediate and critical labour shortages, particularly in rural, remote, and tourism regions. It is clear that IRCC regards Restaurants Canada as an important stakeholder to inform their policy considerations and we will be following up with the Deputy and his team for further discussions and to provide key data points.

We have also been actively discussing Restaurant Canada’s federal pre-budget submission with federal decision-makers, including two recent meetings with Finance Canada. We had productive discussions with two Directors of Policy to Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, as well as with a team of departmental officials responsible for tax policy and economic development.

Toronto Youth Employment Charter

Restaurants Canada is proud to be an inaugural signatory to of the Toronto Youth Employment Charter. This initiative by the City of Toronto and the United Way of Greater Toronto recognizes the importance of creating meaningful employment opportunities for young people and supporting them in their career development. I was pleased to represent the restaurant industry at an event on August 14 marking the Charter’s launch.

Of the restaurant industry’s 1.2 million employees, nearly 40% are youth, and restaurants are a leading source of first-time jobs.

While Canada has seen youth employment rates drop in many industries recently, our sector leads the country in youth job creation, with 50,000 more youth jobs created this year compared to last year. One in six youth jobs are in the restaurant industry.

Earlier this year, Restaurants Canada created a youth employment toolkit to support operators in hiring and retaining youth. Download your copy here.

Join Restaurants Canada at the NEXT Foodservice + Hospitality Expo in Calgary!

Restaurants Canada is excited to be attending the NEXT Foodservice + Hospitality Expo at the BMO Centre in Calgary on September 13-14, and we look forward to connecting with restaurant and foodservice leaders from across Western Canada.

Be sure to attend a State of the Industry presentation by Cheryl Maitland Muir, Vice President, Western Canada, who will share valuable insights on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Canada’s restaurant and foodservice sector.

We also invite you to visit the Restaurants Canada booth and meet Cheryl and Nicole Cork, Director of Membership and Stakeholder Engagement. They can answer your questions about membership, ways to get involved, and how Restaurants Canada is advocating on behalf of the industry to ensure a strong and thriving restaurant sector.

As a special benefit, a limited number of Restaurants Canada members can receive complimentary tickets to attend the show.

A Practical Look at AI for Restaurant Teams

Join us this Wednesday, August 26, for a webinar with Kibbi to learn how AI can help operators streamline onboarding and training, improve productivity, and support employee development through real-world tools and applications is still open for registration.

The session will include an overview of the Pathways to Careers in Foodservice program, funded through the Government of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF), followed by a moderated discussion with hospitality recruitment expert Val Upfold on how restaurants can begin integrating AI into their workforce strategies.

This webinar is presented as part of Pathways to Careers in Foodservice. This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

With gratitude,