Canadian businesses preparing for Tuesday’s imposition of tariffs are leaning into the “buy Canadian” sentiment.
Grocery chain Loblaw Companies Ltd. has committed to securing more food grown and made in Canada, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs to be enacted Tuesday.
Per Bank, the company’s CEO, made the commitment on LinkedIn over the weekend. He also said Loblaw would seek Mexican alternatives for products it would usually purchase from the U.S., since Mexico is also facing the tariffs.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)

Leading by Example: Ottawa Community Housing’s Decarbonization Roadmap for Existing Buildings
Ottawa has long been a hub of innovation, and now that spirit is focused on retrofitting buildings for a greener future. Imagine comfortable homes that are both affordable and kind

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, Head of Critical Care at The Ottawa Hospital, says he likely never would have gotten into medicine if it weren’t for a pediatrician in Edmonton. Dr. Kyeremanteng
Meanwhile, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke promised to bring features aimed at encouraging people to buy local in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to his company’s Shop app.
The push to buy domestically ramped up over the weekend, after Trump announced he would apply 25 per cent tariffs to Canadian goods, with a lower 10 per cent duty on energy.
Canada has $30 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on American products set to take effect the same day and will boost the package to $125 billion in 21 days if the U.S. doesn’t back off.
Shopify’s move comes two days after Lütke criticized the federal government’s decision to impose counter-tariffs on U.S. goods.
In a post on X Saturday, Lütke said he was “disappointed” in the federal government’s response, adding the trade war was “going to be devastating” to small businesses across the country and “Canada will decline” as a result.
“Canada thrives when it works with America together,” he wrote. “Win by helping America win. Trump believes that Canada has not held its side of the bargain, and he set terms to prove that we still work together: get the borders under control and crack down on fentanyl dens.
“These are things that every Canadian wants its government to do, too. These are not crazy demands, even if they came from an unpopular source.
“Action has to be judged based on what it leads to, not how good it sounds or feels. Leadership is about doing what’s right, not what is popular. And hitting back will not lead to anything good. America will shrug it off. Canada will decline.”
– With additional reporting from OBJ staff