What's the Tariff on Maple Syrup?
Nearly all imported from Canada.
Current Tariff Rate
25%
Pre-2025 Rate
0%
Rate Increase
+25pp
Price Impact
+25%
+$4
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$15.99
32 oz maple syrup
After Tariffs
$19.99
32 oz maple syrup
That's $4 more per unit — a 25% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Maple syrup is the quintessential Canadian export — and the 25% IEEPA tariff has turned this beloved breakfast staple into a symbol of deteriorating US-Canada relations. Quebec alone produces 72% of the world's maple syrup through a tightly controlled supply management system run by the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec, essentially OPEC for syrup. This federation maintains a strategic maple syrup reserve of 100+ million pounds to stabilize prices, making it one of the most managed agricultural commodities on Earth. Vermont, the largest US producer, makes only 6% of North American supply — nowhere near enough to replace Canadian imports. The tariff creates an almost absurd situation: maple syrup, deeply woven into American breakfast culture, has no viable domestic substitute at scale. New England producers benefit marginally, but the fundamental supply constraint is trees — sugar maples take 30-40 years to reach tapping age.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
Canada
Made in USA
10%
Import Volume
/bin/bash.6B
Alternatives
Vermont, New York, Maine (limited scale)
📅 Tariff Timeline
1988
Canada-US FTA eliminates maple syrup tariffs
0%1994
NAFTA continues duty-free treatment
0%2020
USMCA maintains zero tariff
0%2025-Feb
IEEPA tariff imposed on Canadian goods
25%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
40M
Annual Cost Per Household
2
💡 Did You Know?
- •Quebec maintains a Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve of over 100 million pounds — stored in thousands of barrels in a warehouse complex
- •In 2012, thieves stole 8.7 million worth of maple syrup from the reserve in what became known as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist
- •A sugar maple tree must be 30-40 years old before it can be tapped, making rapid supply increases impossible
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 1702.20
- Current Rate
- 25%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 0%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA
Legal Authority
IEEPA Executive Order (April 2, 2025)
Effective: April 2, 2025
"Liberation Day" — broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
The tariff on Maple Syrup is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 25% tariff on Maple Syrup is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 25% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $15.99 → $19.99
Related Products in Agriculture
🔍 Dig Deeper
See the Full Picture
Tariffs affect thousands of products. See how much they're costing your household.