US Bans Canadian Whey Protein After Canada Slaps 50% Tariffs on American Supply
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 27
US Bans Canadian Whey Protein After Canada Slaps 50% Tariffs on American Supply
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 27
Summary
Canadian whey protein concentrate is being barred from US buyers after Ottawa imposed 50% tariffs on American whey, pulling a key sports-nutrition ingredient deeper into the US-Canada trade fight.
Canada faces the sharper squeeze because it relies heavily on US whey and has limited domestic processing capacity; some manufacturers rushed to stockpile six months of inventory before the Sept. 8 tariffs took effect.
Fit Foods and other Canadian protein-food makers say switching to alternatives like pea protein is costly because recipes and supply chains must be rebuilt, raising the risk of higher retail prices.
US consumers are also exposed: suppliers had reported sellouts as early as April, whey protein concentrate hit a record $13 a pound in June, and analysts expect whey-based foods to get pricier through year-end and early 2027.