4 easy ways to shop smarter at grocery stores amid Trump tariffs, according to experts
Buy made-in-Canada products instead of American items. 🇨🇦
Grocery store aisles.
Now that Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports are in effect, you might be looking for ways to keep costs down.
Experts revealed money-saving tips for shopping at grocery stores in Canada and here's what you need to know.
Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods — except for 10% on Canadian energy — and Canada has responded with 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of imported American goods.
It's expected that tariffs on Canada could cause some grocery prices to rise almost instantly, including fresh produce from the U.S.
Natasha Macmillan, the director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, shared easy ways you can shop smarter at grocery stores amid tariffs.
Buy made-in-Canada products
"In response to tariffs on U.S. goods, consumers should consider choosing Canadian-made products to avoid rising prices on American imports," Macmillan said.
The financial expert suggested that you look for "Made in Canada" and "Produced in Canada" labels when shopping for groceries.
This can support local manufacturers and ensure you're less dependent on "costly U.S. goods."
Since Trump threatened tariffs back in February, grocery stores in Canada are making it easier to buy Canadian.
That includes highlighting made-in-Canada products in-store and online, giving Canadian items prominence over American products, sourcing grown-in-Canada and made-in-Canada food, and looking for alternatives to U.S. items.
Check the price per gram, pound, litre, etc.
Macmillan said checking the unit price — the cost per gram, pound, litre, etc. — can help you "maximize grocery savings."
Sometimes a product might seem like it's more expensive if it has a higher price tag, but if it's a bigger item, the cost for how much you get could actually be quite cheap.
This is especially true at retailers like Costco that offer bulk-sized products.
According to Macmillan, this ensures that "you're getting the best value, especially as prices increase due to tariffs."
Use money-saving grocery apps
"Take advantage of money-saving apps like Flipp, Checkout51, or Drop," Macmillan noted.
These apps offer coupons, cash-back deals, and loyalty points that can save you money when grocery shopping.
The financial expert also suggested pairing grocery apps with a rewards credit card to maximize your savings even more.
Shop with the best credit cards for groceries
Ratehub.ca revealed the best credit cards for groceries in Canada for 2025.
Since not all credit cards are accepted at every grocery store, the financial advice platform put out this list of the best credit cards for groceries by store.
- Metro, Sobeys, Food Basics, Longo's, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Rabba: American Express Cobalt and Scotiabank Gold American Express
- Loblaws, Superstore, and FreshCo: CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite and Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite
- Costco: CIBC Costco Mastercard
- No Frills: Tangerine Money-Back Card
- Walmart: Tangerine Money-Back Card and Walmart Rewards Mastercard
These credit cards get you perks like points, cash back, and more.
If you have one of these cards, you might want to think about shopping at the store that's best for that credit card.
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