The makers of America's favorite ketchup said they are “deeply disappointed” by Justin Trudeau, who made a humiliating gaffe while discussing tariff threats.
Condiment giant Kraft Heinz Canada has hit back at the controversial politician's “misleading” statements about the company's ketchup not being produced in the Maple Leaf country, as he urged residents to buy only Canadian products.
On Jan. 21, Trudeau told reporters that his government will retaliate against any tolls imposed on the country after President Donald Trump indicated he would impose a 25 percent trade tariff on Canada.
“That's why, as we have in the past, we will look at things that have replacements for Canadian consumers that don't have tariffs,” he said at a news conference.
Referring to the 2018 trade war during Donald Trump's first term in the White House, the prime minister used Heinz Ketchup as an example to ask people to buy their own country's products.
“The example from last time was that Heinz's ketchup was replaced by French's ketchup, because French was still using Canadian tomatoes in his ketchup.”
Shortly afterwards, Kraft Heinz Canada released its own statement debunking Trudeau's false claim.
The company made it clear that, apart from a five-year period, they had been producing ketchup from Canada for over a century.
Condiment giant Kraft Heinz Canada has hit back at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 'misleading' statements about ketchup not being produced in the Maple Leaf country
The company made it clear that, other than a five-year period, they had been producing Canadian-made ketchup for more than a century.
In addition, Kraft Heinz Canada also revealed that they only used tomatoes grown in Leamington, Ontario and that they were the “largest buyer of tomatoes in Ontario.”
“More than 1,000 hard-working Canadians at our Mont Royal Quebec facility, along with our many suppliers across the province, produce HEINZ ketchup for Canadians using tomatoes from Leamington, Ontario.
“As one of the country's largest food producers, Kraft Heinz is also the largest buyer of tomatoes in Ontario.
'With the exception of the five years from 2015 to 2020, we have been making HEINZ Ketchup in Canada for more than 100 years.
“We were resolute in our decision to bring production of HEINZ Ketchup back to Canada in 2020 and are proud that HEINZ Ketchup is made in Canada, by Canadians, using Canadian tomatoes,” the strongly worded statement reads.
Within hours of taking office on January 20, President Trump reiterated how he was considering a 25 percent tariff targeting the United States' closest neighbors and trading partners while in the Oval Office.
“It's something I've been thinking about for a long time,” Trump noted at the press conference, saying he plans to impose them on February 1.
The slight delay is being described by analysts as a “short reprieve,” giving businesses and trading partners a short period to brace for the potential economic fallout.
In addition, Kraft Heinz Canada also revealed that they only used tomatoes grown in Leamington, Ontario and that they were the “largest buyer of tomatoes in Ontario.”
Referring to the 2018 trade war during Donald Trump's first term in the White House, the prime minister used HEINZ ketchup as an example to ask people to buy their own country's products
On Jan. 21, Trudeau told reporters that his government will retaliate against any tolls imposed on the country after President Donald Trump indicated he would impose a 25 percent trade tariff on Canada.
The proposed 25 percent tariff would mark a significant escalation in trade tensions and could impact a wide range of industries, from agriculture to automotive.
He also warned world leaders that they could face crippling economic sanctions if they don't start manufacturing in America, in a blistering speech to the World Economic Forum on Jan. 23.
The president said countries “will pay” if they choose not to do business in the United States and touted a return to the “Golden Age” of financial prosperity.
He also offered an incentive of lower taxes and tariffs to countries that choose to relocate more of their businesses while he is in the White House.
In remarks that took the world on notice, he said his message was very simple: “Come make your product in America and we will give you some of the lowest taxes of any country in the world… America, then you will simply have to pay a rate.'
As he rolled out his strategy to boost U.S. manufacturing, he also pushed for Canada to become the 51st state to avoid the crippling economic sanctions he could impose globally.
In the wide-ranging speech, he reiterated his desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and said he will ask Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a $1 trillion investment and a cut in oil prices to ask.
He also criticized Bank of America CEO Bryan Moynihan, claiming his conservative supporters had been denied services.
