Arlington, VA – Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO, FMI – The Food Industry Association, issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s tariffs levied on imported products from Mexico, Canada and China that recently went into effect.   

“The U.S. food system is deeply integrated with global markets, providing Americans with safe, nutritious foods that they enjoy year-round. This has allowed grocery stores to offer Americans products like bananas, coffee, grains, and spices to feed their families delicious and healthy meals regardless of the season or region where they live.   

“The food industry has very thin profit margins—just 1.6% for retailers and 7.5% for food manufacturers. Although food retailers have long done everything in their power to keep food prices as low as possible for their customers, faced with significant new cost pressures from tariffs, the food industry will have little choice but to pass on these import taxes to remain in business and continue serving customers.   

“FMI and our member companies stand ready to work with the Trump administration to ensure we deliver on the President’s goals of strengthening the economy, creating American jobs, and making everyday purchases more affordable for the 100 million American households we serve each week.”  

Industry FAQ: https://www.fmi.org/government-affairs/tariff-resources