The history of the United States is intimately linked to that of fries. Essential support for cheeseburger, those that Americans call “French fries” had also been ironically renamed time “Freedom Fries”in response to the opposition of France to the war in Iraq in 2003. Even today these fried potato matches could be at the heart of the debate, this time due to the customs taxes desired by Donald Trump.
While the United States produces about 19 billion kilos of potatoes every year, an increase in taxes on rapeseed oil imports could endanger the profitability of this emblematic dish, reports the online media Business Insider. To the point that some brands are planning to change the type of fat, going back to old and more expensive methods such as cooking beef or duck fat. Others invest in filtration systems to extend the life of the oil, but that will not be enough to compensate for the increase in prices. Are we going to attend a fried crisis in the United States?
The fries are not only popular, they are also among the most profitable products of fast food. With beneficiary margins higher than that of many other dishes, the increase in production costs could lead to a reduction in profits. From there to delete them purely and simply menus? Perhaps not, even if they may be shunned by consumers, especially in the United States where inflation and purchasing power are a major issue today.
The American catering sector will not be the only victim of these prices imposed by the White House. Canada, the main rapeseed oil supplier in the United States, represents 96% of imports. New customs taxes therefore directly affect Canadian producers, threatening an industry that generates billions of dollars.
When the fried becomes political
In March 2025, Donald Trump implemented 25% customs duties on all products from Canada, ignoring the previous US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), before temporarily suspending its measure, faced with the panic of the markets. If it was actually applied at the end of the 90 days of break, this measure would have immediate repercussions on cross -border trade.
In addition to its oil, the United States imported $ 1.7 billion in Canada frozen fried fries every year. Since 2020, the country buys more frozen fries than it produces, an imbalance that coincides with a pricing. At McDonald’s, the average price of fries jumped 134%, from $ 1.79 in 2019 to 4.19 dollars in 2024.
Henry An, professor and president of the Department of Economy of Resources and Environmental Sociology of the University of Alberta, concludes: “The price of rapeseed will increase and this increase will be passed on to all the participants of the value chain, from wholesale buyers to restaurateurs via the end consumer.” Are we at the start of a great crisis in the fried?
