UFCW leaders meet with officials in Washington to combat trade war

UFCW leaders met with U.S. House Minority Leader in Washington. Pictured (left-right): UFCW International President Marc Perrone, UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty, UFCW Executive Vice President Dave Young, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and UFCW International Vice President Ademola Oyefeso.

Washington, D.C. – March 4, 2025 – UFCW leaders, including National President Shawn Haggerty, representing 1.3 million workers in both Canada and the United States, convened in Washington, D.C. to address the growing concerns over the harmful effects of a potential trade war between the two nations.

UFCW officials met with Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. Jeffries echoed the union’s concerns, emphasizing the detrimental impact of trade policies.

UFCW leaders stressed the “lose-lose” nature of trade wars, especially for workers. While trade tariffs and barriers may initially be seen as leverage in international negotiations, the leaders pointed out that such policies often result in higher prices for consumers, job instability, and reduced economic growth. With a significant portion of UFCW members employed in sectors like retail, food production, and agriculture—industries that depend heavily on cross-border trade—the leaders emphasized that a trade war would disrupt supply chains, harm employment, and potentially cause wage stagnation.

“These reckless policies drive up the cost of goods, threaten jobs, and destabilize industries that working people, including UFCW members, rely on,” said UFCW Canada National President Shawn Haggerty. “Instead of creating opportunities, tariffs only make life harder for the very people they claim to protect.”

The meeting concluded with a unified call for diplomacy and pragmatic solutions that prioritize fair trade and protect workers. UFCW leaders urged both the U.S. and Canadian governments to collaborate in preserving economic stability and ensuring policies that benefit workers on both sides of the border.

Given the current economic climate, now more than ever is the time to support food products made in Canada by union workers. Visit our Great Canadian Food Products page to explore a list of items produced by UFCW Canada members.