Thunder Bay shoppers concerned about potential tariffs raising cost of living

The looming trade war between Canada and the U.S. is on a 30-day pause, but the future is still unknown.

Shoppers in Thunder Bay, Ont., have divided opinions about how the government should handle the situation, but all agree their grocery baskets may look a bit different.

Canada initially planned to put 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion worth of a far-reaching list of imported American goods starting Tuesday.  

The trade war was at temporarily delayed, as U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to hold off on levying tariffs on Canada for at least 30 days after a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

Thunder Bay shopper Patricia Holseth said retaliatory tariffs on American products could make some grocery items more expensive.

"We're going to have to watch for sales, try and get things that are more reasonable," said Holseth.

• Are potential future tariffs causing you to change your spending habits? Tell us about it in an email to ask@cbc.ca. 

These shoppers are buying Canadian

While Katie Kuoapa-Aho said she was concerned a trade war could impact her grocery bills, she plans to avoid buying American goods on principle. 

"We're going to make a point to really look at our labels and make sure that we're buying Canadian," said Kuoapa-Aho. "It might take a little extra time, but that's OK."

She said she would support Canada if it launched retaliatory levies against the U.S., and its subsequent calls to buy Canadian goods while boycotting American products when possible. 

"If they need to kind of up the ante to kind of make a point, then I support that," Kuoapa-Aho said. 

Another shopper, Dan Hogan, thinks the government has done a good job so far of responding to the U.S.'s tariffs.

He said he'll also now avoid buying American goods. 

"We're just getting something to make supper tonight with. Whatever it is, it'll be Canadian anyway, or closest to it. Not American if I can help it."

While she said she didn't agree with Canada's decision to impose tariffs on American goods, Leah Oberle said her shopping habits have changed as a result.

"I don't think they should retaliate personally; I just don't know if it'll do them any good just for the relationship." 

Increased prices on consumer goods coming from the U.S. would be a deterrent, said Oberle. 

"I was going to buy feta and then I thought, no, I think I can wait till next week. I'll see if it's on sale next week."

Trade issue spurring 'nationalist sentiments,' assistant prof says

Individuals frequently personally retaliate against practices and policies they dislike by voting with their wallets, said Myriam Brouard, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Ottawa.

As the tariff situation continues to evolve, the consumer behavioural impacts could be significant, said Brouard.

"We've never had an event like this in the past, so there is some parts of consumers behaviours that it is going to be maybe a little bit unpredictable," she said. 

Elected officials and institutional bodies' buying patterns will likely impact purchasing habits at the personal level, she said. 

"It's definitely spurring some nationalist sentiments, some Canadian pride from shoppers," she said.