JUST IN: Trump DEMANDS Canada’s Potato — Carney’s Response LOCKS U.S. Fast Food Market ……
Four companies — McCain Foods, Cavendish Farms, Simplot, and their affiliates — control 97% of America’s frozen French fry supply. Now, the U.S. government is suing them for allegedly operating as a cartel. At the same time, the U.S. is heavily dependent on Canada for frozen potatoes and canola oil, key ingredients behind fast-food fries.
Canada exports over $40 billion in agricultural goods to the U.S. each year, including $1.7 billion in frozen fries. In just one quarter, Canada shipped 680 million pounds of frozen potato products to the U.S. Despite this dependence, in 2025 President Trump imposed tariffs of up to 25–35% on Canadian goods, escalating trade tensions.
The problem? The U.S. cannot quickly replace Canadian supply. Domestic production and processing capacity are insufficient, and building new infrastructure would take years. Meanwhile, Canadian producers are exploring new markets in Asia, reducing reliance on the U.S.
This isn’t just politics — it affects consumers. McDonald’s fries, for example, rose 134% in price from 2019 to 2024. With tariffs and supply uncertainty, Americans are already paying more.
The real issue isn’t just higher prices. It’s whether America can maintain its fast-food supply chain if Canada permanently redirects its potato exports elsewhere.