Ontario Greenhouse Growers Call for Stronger Canada–U.S. Trade Ties
February 12, 2026 
Vegetables grown in a hydroponic farm. | N_Sakarin via Shutterstock
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement of new federal measures aimed at improving grocery affordability and strengthening domestic food production to improve the resiliency of Canada’s national food system.
However, at the same time, OGVG stresses the importance of stability within a Canada–U.S. trade relationship. Canada’s greenhouse vegetables sector is highly export-dependent and trade-reliant, with more than 85% of production shipped to the U.S. Therefore, thousands of Canadian jobs and the nation’s economy are supported by the reliable trade of Ontario-grown greenhouse vegetables crossing the border each and every day.
OGVG Executive Director Richard Lee states that trade barriers and tariffs, amidst market uncertainty, threaten the mutually beneficial trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. While the market is already facing challenges related to energy dependence and labor, trade instability delays industry investment, long-term planning decisions, and the ability to compete within the market. Additionally, sudden changes in trade conditions prevent Ontario greenhouse operations from redirecting product to other market partners, resulting in product losses, which, in turn, lead to reduced production and higher costs for operations and consumers alike.
Therefore, OGVG urges the federal government to take action in order to:
- Address non-tariff-related barriers to market disruption and trade instability.
- Engage with export-reliant producers to develop affordability and food security strategies.
- Prevent new tariffs and trade barriers for greenhouse vegetables.
- Strengthen its agricultural trade relationship with the U.S.
To read Prime Minister Carney’s full announcement, click here.
