Manitoba’s restaurant industry relieved about tariff delays

With President Trump announcing a delay on tariffs for some exports from Canada, one industry in Manitoba that will breathe a sigh of relief is the restaurant, as the uncertainty of the tariff war has impacted everything from product supply to consumer trends.

“This hit to the bottom line. You know, it’s not pretty,” said Tony Siwicki, the owner of Silver Heights Restaurant.

“The beehive was shaken. We’re all trying to figure out what to do next. What’s going to happen? Is it happening? And working with all our suppliers and all our vendors trying to figure out the next course of action and where we’re going forward,” said Siwicki.

Kim Riddolls, the operations manager of the Manitoba Restaurant and Food Services Association adds, “I think that right now it’s the uncertainty of everything and how everything can change in a second, we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Siwicki says that despite Trump’s latest delay, the continued tariff war will inevitably impact food prices.

“Everything that we get in that hits us we have to push onto the next consumer because otherwise, the business goes south. That’s just the reality. Now, how much can you absorb is the next question, as an operator, like, what is it your going to absorb in order not to scare every single customer off if that’s the end result,” said Siwicki.

Ravi Ramberran says his restaurant and pub is also preparing for the tariff pinch.  He believes there must be a more nuanced approach than just boycotting American products.

“If he puts a hold on that man, that would be fantastic,” said Ramberran, owner of the Saint Restaurant and Pub.

“Does that mean we encourage boycotting of local industry that might be tied to the U.S. because those are still local families that still have food to put on their tables? Does that mean boycotting liquor brands because they came from the U.S. when a local Canadian distributor is the one that brought it in and sold it, you know? So we need to think of the real impacts of what support Canada means.”

Siwicki adds, “The list goes on and on and on of what it’s going to affect, but the problem is we’re the ones that are buying everything. So that’s a scary thing.”