False reports circulating online claim that Canada reduced potato exports to the United States by more than 40% in response to 35% tariffs and signed a US$1.74 billion trade deal with Asian markets. Available trade data and official statements show otherwise.
Posts on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Threads, and TikTok, alleged that Canadian potato exports to the United States dropped by 41% and were redirected to Asia. Several YouTube channels also repeated the claims in stylized videos, some of which carried disclaimers about altered content.
According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, potato exports are covered under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and are not subject to the 35% tariffs introduced by the U.S. administration on August 1, provided they meet rules of origin.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada spokeswoman Stéphanie Blais confirmed there is no evidence of a US$1.74 billion agreement with Asian countries or an increase in potato exports to that region. "Canadian agri-food exporters base their decisions on market needs and dynamics, and available data for 2025 does not show an overall increase in shipments to Asian markets," she said.
Canada has been negotiating a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 2021. In December, a delegation of growers from Prince Edward Island visited Indonesia and the Philippines to promote potato exports. Negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia concluded in November 2024, though the deal has not yet been signed, and no dollar figure has been attached. Statistics Canada reported 980 tonnes of fresh or chilled potatoes exported from Canada to Indonesia in April 2025.
The United States remains the primary export destination for Canadian potatoes, accounting for 96% of seed, 93% of fresh, and 91% of French fry exports in the 2023/2024 production year. Canadian Press analysis of Statistics Canada data showed 427,467 tonnes of Canadian potatoes were exported to the United States from April to June 2025, compared with 512,621 tonnes in the first quarter. This represents a 17% decline, not the 41% claimed online.
Blais noted that the quarterly decline is consistent with fluctuations seen in previous years, unrelated to tariffs. "Fluctuation in trade occurs for various reasons. More time is needed to understand the true impact of the U.S. administration's tariff policy," she said.
Industry representatives stress that despite seasonal changes in volume, the U.S. market continues to absorb the majority of Canadian potato exports.
Source: Canadian Press
