Kraft Heinz slams Trudeau for floating ketchup as trade target

3 hours ago 1

Company 'deeply disappointed' after prime minister used it as a potential target for countervailing tariffs

Author of the article:

Bloomberg News

Randy Thanthong-Knight

Published Jan 23, 2025 • 1 minute read

Kraft Heinz Co. said it’s “deeply disappointed” in Justin Trudeau after the prime minister threw a metaphorical tomato at the food manufacturer while discussing trade relations with the United States.

Article content

Trudeau told reporters this week that his government will retaliate against any tariffs by the Trump administration by bringing in counter-tariffs against U.S.-made products — focusing on items where Canadian consumers have alternatives.

Advertisement 2

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

Article content

Recalling the 2018 trade spat during Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, Trudeau told reporters: “The example from last time was Heinz’s ketchup being replaced by French’s ketchup because French’s was still using Canadian tomatoes in its ketchup.”

Kraft Heinz said Trudeau is perpetuating a myth.

While it’s true that Kraft Heinz wasn’t making ketchup in Canada at the time, it has since reopened Canadian production, with more than 1,000 workers employed at a Quebec-based facility that uses Ontario-grown tomatoes, the company said in a statement.

“Kraft Heinz Canada is deeply disappointed that Prime Minister Trudeau has made misleading statements that Heinz Ketchup is not made in Canada and that it may be a potential target for countervailing tariffs,” it said.

Recommended from Editorial