The Canadian flower tariff of 50% is now part of U.S. floral sourcing math, and it carries no USMCA exemption. Buyers who rely on Canadian cut flowers, bulbs, foliage or cuttings face higher costs, and floral exhibitors at last week’s IFPA show said buyers are shifting toward U.S.-grown product, HortiDaily reported.
What the tariff covers
The International Fresh Produce Association says President Trump signed proclamations July 20 imposing 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian imports under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, an authority IFPA says had not been used before. The increase took effect in late August; IFPA’s updates cite both Aug. 19 and Aug. 22.
IFPA’s summary of the annex lists cut flowers, including roses, orchids, lilies, anthuriums, alstroemeria, gypsophila and snapdragons, plus bulbs, tubers and corms, foliage and greenery, and unrooted cuttings. It says USMCA-covered goods are not exempt. In 2024 Canada was the third-largest cut-flower supplier to the U.S., at more than $114 million, IFPA reports.
Canada’s side
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on $27.6 billion of U.S. goods took effect Sept. 8, IFPA reports. Flowers Canada Growers says the tariffs hit a significant share of its roughly 1,500 family flower farms and about C$210 million in annual exports to the U.S. Executive Director Andrew Morse said, “The only long-term solution to this issue is a return to good-faith negotiations between Canada and the U.S.” The group also warns that U.S. growers and retailers would struggle to source young plants and orchids at comparable quality, volume and price. See our earlier report on Canadian growers’ warning.
What this means for you
- Audit origin by SKU. Orchids, unrooted cuttings, bulbs and foliage are the likely exposure points in a grocery program.
- Clarify who pays. Confirm who is importer of record and whether suppliers have repriced since August.
- Qualify U.S. alternates early, but test capacity and spec before moving volume, since U.S. growers may be absorbing demand from several buyers at once.
- Update margin math. A 50% duty on a Canadian-origin component can move a bouquet’s cost materially. Related supply pressure is covered in our peat moss supply report.
Takeaways: Canadian flower tariff checklist
- The Canadian flower tariff is 50%, with no USMCA exemption, per IFPA.
- Canada was the No. 3 U.S. cut-flower supplier in 2024 at more than $114 million.
- Map Canadian-origin SKUs and line up U.S. alternates now.
Sources: IFPA government affairs update; IFPA Insights on Floral; Flowers Canada Growers statement via Greenhouse Grower; HortiDaily (Oct. 16, 2026). Photo: Panjinda / Unsplash, illustrative.
The SuperFloral Team brings you news, trends and practical ideas for supermarket and mass-market floral professionals. Our editors gather and curate the stories that matter most to floral teams in grocery and retail, from industry news and events to merchandising inspiration and business advice. Have a story idea or news tip? Write to us at editorial@superfloral.com.
