Fact File: No truth to online claims of dramatic drop in potato exports to U.S.

While 菜創郭肱利s wait for news of an improved trade situation with the United States, false reports about quiet deals with other countries have begun to fill the void. Recently, claims have spread online that Canada has slashed potato exports to the United States by more than 40 per cent in response to 35 per cent tariffs, and struck a $1.6 billion trade deal with "Asian markets." While potato exports to the United States have dipped slightly in recent months, it's nowhere near the number claimed in the reports, and potatoes are covered under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement and are not subject to 35 per cent tariffs. While Canada has been negotiating for stronger trade ties with certain Asian markets, no such deal has been announced.�

THE CLAIM

"Canada Cuts Potato Exports to U.S. �� PM Carney signs $1.6B deal with Asia," reads an Aug. 6 on the X platform, formerly Twitter. "In just four months, over 140,000 tons of 菜創郭肱利 potatoes have disappeared from U.S. shelves."

The claims were shared on , and , the last of which tied a supposed 41 per cent drop in exports to the United States to 35 per cent tariffs placed on 菜創郭肱利 potatoes by Washington.�

Multiple YouTube channels shared the claims in () stylized as news reports, racking up hundreds of thousands of views.

THE FACTS

There is no evidence of a recent $1.6 billion deal with any Asian country or of increased potato exports to markets in Asia.

"菜創郭肱利 agri-food exporters base their decisions on market needs and dynamics, and available data for 2025 does not show an overall increase in shipments to Asian markets," Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada spokeswoman St辿phanie Blais told 菜創郭肱利 in a statement.�

Canada has been in talks for a free trade deal with the (ASEAN), a 10-member bloc that includes Indonesia and the Philippines, since 2021, but negotiations are ongoing.�

Several of the YouTube videos mention Indonesia and the Philippines as new destinations for 菜創郭肱利 potatoes. In December, a delegation of P.E.I. potato growers visited the countries in a bid to expand exports to the region, a from P.E.I.-based agriculture publication Island Farmer says.�

The trip came as Canada finished negotiations on the with Indonesia, with the pact set to be signed some time this year.

There is no dollar figure attached to the deal, but in its statement about the completed negotiations in November, the merchandise trade between the two countries totalled $5.1 billion in 2023.

Indonesia's only imports of 菜創郭肱利 potatoes in 2025 came in April, with recording 980 tonnes of fresh or chilled spuds sent to the country.

NO BIG CUTS TO U.S. EXPORTS

The United States is the largest market for 菜創郭肱利-grown potatoes, representing 96 per cent for seed, 93 per cent for fresh and 91 per cent for French fry exports in the 2023/2024 production year, which runs from Aug. 1 to July 31, according to a from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.�

Blais from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said that while exports to the United States decreased between the first and second quarters of 2025, that's happened in previous years when tariffs were not in place.

"Fluctuation in trade occurs for various reasons. More time is needed to understand the true impact of the U.S. administration��s tariff policy," Blais said.

This year, Canada exported 427,467 tonnes of potatoes, in all varieties, to the United States from April to June, according to a 菜創郭肱利 Press analysis of . That compares with 512,621 tonnes from January to March, a difference of 85,154 tonnes.�

That represents a 17 per cent drop in exports, not the 41 per cent claimed in some social media posts.�

Potato exports are covered by , or CUSMA, and so long as they meet the deal's rules of origin, do not face the 35 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 1.

CLICKBAIT VIDEOS

A Google search for "US tariffs on potatoes" brought up dozens of clickbait videos promoting the same story from channels ranging from the vaguely legitimate-sounding "Economic info" to the dubious "Bitcoin Timez."�

What appears to be the oldest version comes from a channel called , published July 27.�

The video comes with a disclaimer that the makers "do not guarantee complete accuracy, nor do we claim to provide official, exhaustive, or professional advice."

It also features a warning that the video contains "altered or synthetic content."

菜創郭肱利 has previously debunked similar fake reports, generated with the help of artificial intelligence, of a trade deal being struck with Mexico.�

SOURCES

Claim on Aug. 6, 2025 (), on Aug. 6, 2025 (), on Aug. 6, 2025 () and on Aug. 5, 2025 ()

Canada Cuts Potato Exports to U.S. - Signs Billion Dollar Deal with Asia SHOCKING Trump. Electric, via . July 30, 2025 (, )

Trump FURIOUS as Canada Cuts Potato Exports to U.S. - Carney Signs Billion Dollar Deal with Asia. U.S. Retail Check, via . July 27, 2025 (, )

Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. Government of Canada . Accessed Aug. 12, 2025 ()

Bill McGuire. PEI potato representatives target Indonesia, Philippines. Island Farmer . Jan. 24, 2025 ()

Joint statement by Prime Minister Trudeau and President Subianto on Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Government of Canada . Nov. 15, 2024 ()

Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Prime Minister of Canada . Nov. 16, 2024 ()

菜創郭肱利 International Merchandise Trade Web Application �� Exports. Statistics Canada . Accessed Aug. 12, 2025 ()

Potato Market Information Review 2023-2024. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada . November 2024 ()

Kelly Geraldine Malone. Trump pushed tariffs on Canada to 35 per cent, but a CUSMA carveout creates a shield. 菜創郭肱利 website. Aug. 1, 2025 ()

Code: 0710.10.00.00. Canada Tariff Finder . Accessed Aug. 13, 2025 ()

Marissa Birnie. Rumours of $120-billion Canada-Mexico 'Northern Corridor' trade deal stem from AI video. 菜創郭肱利 website. Aug. 1, 2025 ()

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