Canned Food Imports Surge as Tariffs Hit U.S. Cans, Not Filled Goods

The impact on U.S. food producers is already visible. Del Monte closed its cannery in Modesto, California earlier this year, citing foreign competition, according to local reports. The closure eliminated 600 full-time positions and 800-900 seasonal jobs. California peach farmers destroyed 420,000 trees in their orchards as a result. Red Gold, a fourth-generation family-owned processor, told industry media that large institutional customers are increasingly turning to canned tomatoes from Egypt and other countries.

About 78,000 people work in U.S. canneries, nearly as many as in all U.S. steel mills. U.S. steel can manufacturing directly supports more than 7,000 jobs across 23 states, CMI data show.

The quickest fix, according to industry groups, is for the Department of Commerce to use existing authority under an April 2, 2026 proclamation to add a targeted list of canned foods to the Section 232 derivatives list at the 50% tariff rate. The Coalition for Prosperous America and more than 30 U.S. food producers and can manufacturers have signed a letter urging the move, starting with canned corn, green beans, and tomatoes – items Americans both produce and import in significant volumes.

Another avenue is the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which could add tariffs on imported canned foods via the Section 301 excess capacity tariffs it plans to propose. The bipartisan American CANS Act, HR 914, would require imported filled food cans to more prominently label the country of origin. The administration could also support Buy American provisions in the House and Senate Farm Bills that apply to school lunch programs.

A RealClear poll from late last year found 98% of Trump voters believe it is important that the U.S. grows and produces its own food, including canned goods, rather than relying on foreign imports.