AGP Executive Report

Canada-U.S. Tariffs: With a 50% U.S. tariff deadline looming, Canadian negotiators are still far apart on autos and other goods, and B.C. businesses warn the threat is “existential” for firms that rely on U.S. sales. Inflation Watch: Canada’s CPI rose to 3% in July, with gasoline and travel costs pushing prices higher. Food Retail & Social Support: A “social supermarket” model in Hamilton/whānau support is expanding choice-based food help, while Costco and other retailers face yogurt recall headlines tied to mould concerns. Consumer Tech & Products: New semi-solid-state power banks are launching in Japan with claims of reduced fire risk, and a Canadian student’s AI “robot turtle” aims to detect microplastics in water. Brand Expansion: BTS-linked food brand ARIH is expanding into Japan and Canada via 7-Eleven and Loblaw partnerships. Trade Policy Ripple Effects: Packaging makers are urging Ottawa to protect corrugated cartons and containerboard from proposed U.S. tariff moves.

Lululemon Resale in Canada: lululemon’s “Like New” resale platform is live, letting Canadians sell and shop for up to 60% off, pushing circular shopping into mainstream apparel. Trade Pressure on Consumer Goods: Prime Minister Mark Carney says U.S. tariff talks are “delicate” and “intense” as Canada braces for 50% levies, with negotiators still far apart on key sectors—an issue that could quickly hit prices at the shelf. Energy Deal Signals Economic Stakes: Carney highlighted a $10B Quebec–Newfoundland and Labrador clean power-sharing agreement as a major Canadian asset while trade threats loom. Retail Expansion: Shake Shack is adding Ontario locations (Oakville, Burlington) with more growth planned, including a first Ontario drive-thru. Used Tech Value Hunt: Best Buy Canada reports Saskatchewan shoppers buy the least used tech, but when they do, cost savings are the top driver. Food & Retail Delivery: NRS is partnering with Uber Eats to connect independent retailers’ POS inventory to delivery ordering across Canada and the U.S. Consumer Safety/Health Watch: Canada’s CFIA-linked recall chatter continues to surface, including product recalls tied to potential health risks.

Canada–U.S. trade: The U.S. and Canada are edging toward a deal to avert Trump’s threatened 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods, with talks focused on tariff concessions plus commitments on energy, defense and critical minerals. Food & retail safety: Costco Canada recalled yogurt products over potential mould, adding to a busy week of consumer product alerts. Health products: Teva Canada issued a public advisory recalling some Pregabalin capsules due to cross-contamination concerns. Tech & medical regulation: A new look at AI-enabled software as medical devices highlights how regulators are adapting pathways as authorizations surge. Consumer finance: A study says fewer Canadians are opening new bank accounts, while loyalty is weakening. Trade & sourcing for batteries: Euro Manganese signed a non-binding offtake term sheet with 6K Energy for high-purity manganese for North American battery supply chains. Shopping & brands: Untuckit is expanding into men’s jeans, launching its first denim collection in Canada and beyond.

Canada-U.S. Tariff Deadline: Ottawa has less than 72 hours to land a deal with Washington as new U.S. tariffs are set to hit Wednesday, with negotiators trying to trade relief on autos, steel, aluminum and lumber for U.S. demands on areas like alcohol, dairy and procurement. Provincial Pressure: Sources say Ottawa is also pushing provinces to ease restrictions on American alcohol, but negotiators fear the clock may run out. Trade Outreach for Consumers: Canadian pork leaders are using the Iowa State Fair to keep the case for cross-border demand front and centre as talks intensify. Consumer Tech & Home Goods: Kanto’s Obi3G2 turntable arrives less than a year after the Obi3, adding more setup controls and a heavier build for $249.99. Food & Health Research: A University of Toronto study challenges the idea that full-fat dairy harms weight or metabolic health, finding no meaningful downsides from three daily servings. Local Business Spotlight: A Slave Lake nail artist is growing a custom, home-based studio business by tailoring every appointment to clients.

Food Safety Recall: Costco Canada shoppers are being told to return two The Greek Gods yogurt products (650 g two-packs) after a mould-related quality concern; affected items were sold between June and August with best-before dates Aug. 1 to Sept. 15, and the recall is listed as Class 3. Right to Repair & Waste: A Wirral Repair Café model is pushing people to mend instead of toss, part of a broader “right to repair” push against throwaway culture. Local Retail for Canadians: Kitchener’s “The Local” store opens in Fairview Park Mall with about 80 Canadian vendors, aiming to help local makers compete with online pricing pressure and tariffs. Back-to-School Support: Calgary backpack giveaways are helping families cover school basics, with organizers citing the stress of rising per-child costs. Trade & Tariff Pressure: Canada–U.S. negotiations remain tense as a 50% tariff threat looms, with sources saying both sides are still far apart. Cannabis Consolidation: Curaleaf’s unsolicited $272M bid for Aurora Cannabis signals faster medical-cannabis dealmaking, raising questions about whether Canopy Growth could be next. Consumer Tech/Timepieces: Timex expands its dive and outdoor lines with new automatic GMT and chronograph models, leaning into durability and water resistance.

Canada–U.S. Tariff Deadline: Ottawa and Washington are nearing a deal to avert Trump’s proposed 50% tariffs on about $20B of Canadian exports (including dairy, cars and alcohol), with talks focused on tariff relief plus possible energy, defense and critical-minerals commitments. Food Safety Recall (Canada): Health Canada/CFIA issued a recall notice for Teva-Pregabalin 150 mg capsules due to cross-contamination with sertraline; patients are told not to stop medication without a clinician/pharmacist and to return affected product for replacement. Wildfire Tech in B.C.: Rogers activated free Rogers Satellite direct-to-device connectivity across British Columbia during wildfire emergencies, aiming to keep people connected when cell towers fail. Back-to-School Shopping (Resale): Plato’s Closet is pushing teens toward affordable resale fashion via a “surprise school hallway” campaign about confidence and fit. Food Waste Innovation: UBC researchers say a seaweed-based coating could help keep strawberries fresh longer without refrigeration, targeting spoilage and waste. Retail Watch: Costco’s Kirkland Signature semi-sweet chocolate chips are reported back on shelves after being pulled in 2024.

Canada-U.S. Tariffs: Ottawa says it’s still far apart with Washington on averting new 50% U.S. tariffs hitting Aug. 19, with disputes tied to autos, dairy and alcohol, while Canada wants relief on steel and aluminum. Trade-Route Scrutiny: A White House report flags a “Great Transshipment Scam,” naming Canada among economies at risk of being used to reroute China-linked goods to dodge U.S. duties. Consumer Goods & Retail: Kimberly-Clark says it received a $45M refund for invalidated U.S. tariffs, about half of what it paid, to help offset higher input costs. Food Supply: Ontario Roma tomato shipments are landing in Brandon at lower prices via pre-orders, highlighting how direct distribution can beat retail markups. Product Recalls: Whole Foods Market recalls in Ontario are tied to salmonella concerns, including salsas/guacamoles and other prepared foods. Luxury Watch Market: Coastal Timepieces reports a 20% jump in pre-owned watch trade-ins as buyers treat watches more like investments. Sports Media: Paramount says its Warner Bros. Discovery merger has cleared regulators in 68 countries, with only U.S. state AG litigation left.

Trade Pressure on Groceries & Retail: With Aug. 19 looming, Canadian businesses are sticking to “watchful waiting” instead of front-loading shipments as 50% U.S. tariffs on about US$20B in Canadian goods (including dairy and down jackets) threaten fresh costs and supply disruptions. Tariff Fallout for Alcohol: U.S. wine and beer leaders warn provincial bans on U.S. alcohol have already slammed exports, with retaliation and uncertainty continuing to hit Canadian-facing brands. Dairy Aisle Push: Tre Stelle is rolling out a “Sleep Shopper” campaign in major Canadian transit hubs, urging shoppers to break grocery habit and try its original and lactose-free cream cheese. Consumer Safety & Recalls: Whole Foods Market recalls select salsas, guacamoles, pico de gallo and prepared foods in Ontario over possible salmonella risk. Health-Donation Scrutiny: Grifols has paused pay-for-plasma collection in Canada after Health Canada flagged compliance issues and following deaths tied to plasma donations. Fraud Watch: The BBB says investment and cryptocurrency scams are Canada’s riskiest, urging skepticism of big returns in short timeframes. New Retail Footprint: Le Creuset expands in Canada with a West Vancouver boutique. Local Living: Cornwall Community Hospital gets a Level III Trauma Centre designation with new Code Trauma emergency response protocols.

Food Safety Recall: Frankie’s Organic Plant-Based Vegan Cheddar Puffs (sold in the U.S.) are being recalled after undeclared milk products were found, following allergy complaints tied to a supplier-level seasoning issue. Retail Expansion: Winnipeg’s The Little Brick Market is opening a bigger Lego store Aug. 22, nearly tripling space and adding “pick a brick” tables plus community events. Trade & Tariffs: The White House alleges a “shadow transshipment network” helping China dodge U.S. tariffs via 40-plus countries, naming Canada and India among Tier 1 risk links, and says lost tariff revenue could reach tens of billions. Consumer Tech & Shopping: Michaels is rolling out a new concept store format in Rogers, with “shopping worlds” designed to inspire projects and styling. Product Launch: Casio’s rugged G-Shock GD-350S-1 with vibration alerts is now on general sale in the UK. Health & Pharma: Pfizer and Valneva say the EMA validated a Lyme vaccine marketing application for review, based on Phase 3 results. Payments Deal: Western Union and Intermex report regulatory progress on their pending acquisition, including NYDFS approval and a California approval extension suspension.

Food & Dairy Supply: Gay Lea Foods is pouring $200M+ into its Clayson Road plant in Toronto to expand cottage cheese and other high-protein cultured dairy, aiming to ease a national shortage. Food Safety: Frankie’s Organic Plant-Based Vegan Cheddar Puffs are recalled in the U.S. after undeclared milk allergens were linked to allergic reactions. Retail & Consumer Deals: National Thrift Shop Day (Aug. 17) is driving extra markdowns at thrift stores nationwide, with shoppers chasing big savings on clothing and household goods. Tech for Students: LG Canada’s Back-to-School contest invites post-secondary students to share their “setup” on Instagram/Reels for a chance to win a gram Pro laptop and gaming monitors. Payments & Cross-Border Money: Theparkpay says it’s opening its cross-border rails via a new app, highlighting Canada as a key licensed market. Trade Pressure: Canada’s top negotiators are pushing to lock in a deal before Aug. 19 to avoid 50% U.S. tariffs hitting roughly $28–29B in Canadian exports. Energy & Health: Mold/air-quality guidance urges Canadians to check outdoor pollution daily and take indoor precautions during spikes.

Consumer Safety & Recalls: Canada’s consumer health watch got louder: Costco Canada recalled yogurt over potential mould, while Whole Foods issued a recall for select salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo and prepared foods due to possible health risk. Public Health: New Canadian data shows severe e-scooter and e-bike injuries are rising for kids, with 10 deaths in 2025 and 57 severe cases involving long hospital stays, ICU or death. Retail & Shopping: Metro is doubling down on discount grocery stores, and HealthySips is expanding Manitoba-made mocktails into more local grocery locations. Payments & Digital Trust: EU leaders are pushing alternatives to US card rails as they weigh the digital euro and payment roaming risks. Auto & Trade: Ford says it will shift some Lincoln production from China to the U.S. starting in 2030, citing tariffs and connected-vehicle rules. Business & Consumer Finance: Insolvencies in Canada jumped more than 11% in June, with consumers driving most of the increase. Tech & Infrastructure: LS Electric secured CSA accreditation for in-house witnessed testing, aiming to speed North American power equipment certification.

Food & Drink Deals: Flashfood says it’s expanding its surplus-grocery marketplace after reporting 2025 wins like $85.5M in shopper savings and 32.9M pounds of food diverted from landfills, plus a Canadian Grocer Impact Award for sustainability. Dairy Investment: Gay Lea Foods is investing $200M+ in a facility expansion to strengthen Canadian dairy supply. School-Year Giving: Lactalis Canada’s iÖGO nano and Cheestrings launch “Pack More Than Lunches,” donating 40,000 to Kids Help Phone and letting shoppers win $15,000 by uploading receipts. Grocery Pricing Pressure: A new Ontario-focused comparison finds the same grocery list can cost $50–$100 more depending on where you shop. Retail Operations: Metro plans to convert 10 Ontario Metro stores to the Food Basics discount banner, with restructuring that includes employee terminations and closures tied to its distribution network. Product Safety: Frankie’s Organic Foods recalls Frankie’s Organic Plant-Based Vegan Cheddar Puffs due to undeclared milk, warning of serious allergy risk. Payments & Data Sovereignty: Canada’s Moneris is being sold to U.S. owner Francisco Partners for about $2B, raising concerns about outsourcing critical payments infrastructure and data control. Trade Shock Watch: CFIB warns 2-in-5 Canadian exporters could be hit by looming U.S. 50% tariff threats, threatening jobs and consumer spending.

Women’s Hockey Momentum: Girls are packing arenas for the PWHL, with the league expanding to 12 teams by 2026-27 (including Vancouver and new clubs like Hamilton and Detroit), underscoring how sports culture is turning into a consumer merch and ticketing engine. Local Business & Community: Ottawa’s “After the Storm” benefit concert at Britannia Park (Sept. 1) is calling for food, beverage, dessert, community and merchandise vendors as part of a recovery push after July 1 flooding. Food & Dairy Supply: Gay Lea Foods is committing $200M to expand cottage cheese availability and dairy processing in Canada, aiming to ease supply pressure for shoppers. Retail & Consumer Safety: A major recall is in the mix: nearly 30,000 attic ladders have been recalled after reports of bolts breaking. Payments Watch: RBC and BMO are selling Moneris to U.S. private equity Francisco Partners in a deal that signals continued shakeups in Canadian consumer payments. Product Testing & Health: New research urges better safety testing for lip cosmetics, arguing current rules may miss exposure from both absorption and accidental ingestion.

Canada–U.S. Trade Talks: Senior Canadian and U.S. officials are trying to finalize a potential deal for Trump to review before Aug. 19, aiming to avert new 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian imports and to secure relief on steel, aluminum, lumber and autos. Tariff Fallout for Consumers & Culture: Inuit artists are urging sellers to look beyond the U.S. as the tariff list includes Inuit cultural goods like paintings, prints, sculptures and certain fur products—potentially raising prices for American buyers. Grocery & Food Prices: Charlebois Canada warns chicken supply isn’t keeping up with demand, with wholesale prices already at record levels and risk of further increases by September. Dairy Expansion: Gay Lea Foods will invest $200M to expand its Toronto cottage-cheese and dairy processing capacity, citing a “national cottage cheese shortage” and demand for higher-protein dairy. Retail & Convenience Wellness: Greenhouse is rolling out clean-label, high-protein protein shakes into convenience stores and gas stations, betting on the protein-on-the-go trend. Household Budgets: A Rates.ca survey finds nearly half of Canadians renewing mortgages since January now spend half (or more) of their household budget on housing costs. Product Safety Recall: Henkel is recalling Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip (due to a packaging defect that could leak under pressure). Business & Infrastructure: OMERS reported a 4.8% net return ($6.9B) in H1 2026 and says it plans to add at least $10B in new Canadian investments over five years.

Payments Deal: Francisco Partners has agreed to buy Canadian payments processor Moneris from BMO and RBC in a cash deal valued at about C$2bn (US$1.44bn), with Moneris serving 325,000+ Canadian merchants and offering terminals, kiosks, mobile POS and ecommerce tools. Consumer Safety Recall: Therabody is recalling 584,224 Theragun Pro chargers after reports of overheating, smoke and fires tied to the charging cradle. Food & Health: A Canadian study in the Journal of Nutrition suggests full-fat dairy doesn’t worsen cholesterol or insulin resistance, while higher dairy intake improved blood pressure and boosted calcium, protein and vitamin D. Retail/Travel: Singapore Airlines swept AirlineRatings’ 2026 Flyers’ Choice Awards with four traveller-voted wins, while Paris Baguette opened its first Laos store as it expands across Southeast Asia. Wildfire Update (BC): Crews battling the Bald Range wildfire say conditions remain challenging and re-entry for evacuees won’t be immediate. Trade/Industry: The US announced new minimum import prices and additional duties on polysilicon derivatives effective Dec. 4, 2026.

Fast-Food & Retail Expansion: Jollibee is set to nearly double its Canadian footprint, securing franchise commitments for 26 new restaurants in B.C. and Edmonton over the next five years, aiming for 54 locations. Back-to-School Help: The Halton Learning Foundation launched its 2026 campaign to support 400 HDSB students with food, supplies and clothing before classes start. Food Safety Watch: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño-containing products tied to a salmonella outbreak in the U.S., while a separate cyclosporiasis lettuce recall continues to ripple across states. Auto Labour Talks: Unifor and General Motors kicked off contract negotiations in Toronto, with job security and tariff threats for Canada’s auto sector on the agenda and an Aug. 21 target. Shopping & Consumer Deals: Mejuri’s rare sitewide Summer Sale runs until Aug. 16 with discounts up to 25% on regular-priced jewelry. Toy Market Signals: Circana says global toy sales rose 9.5% year-over-year (to June 2026), with North America led by games & puzzles and FIFA topping licenses. Food Waste Savings: Whole Foods is using Too Good To Go to sell discounted “surprise” bakery and other surplus bags via an app.