Rising Tariffs: Tips for Choosing Canadian-Made Products and Saving on Groceries

World Elite Mastercard PC

PC Optimum

None

3,33 %

5 %

Scene+

None

6 %

Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card

3 %

5 %

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Moi, Scene+ and PC Optimum let you save money with instant rebates on your purchases, and earn points redeemable for gift cards or even travel. It’s a doubly rewarding way to make the most of your grocery spending.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare
ExclusiveNational Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^® Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$150 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated First Year Annual Fee RebateEnds Nov 4, 2026 $150 annual fee rebated	Apply NowCompare
Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months Up to 50,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $7,500 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
BMO CashBack^® World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerGet 40 points after $2,000 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to $480 cash back Get 40 points after $2,000 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare

For maximum cash back and rewards to save on your groceries, check out our guides:

Made in Canada – Which Grocery Store to Choose?

Grocery stores in the Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro groups are supermarkets with Canadian owners.

Giant Tiger is a 100% Canadian company that stands out for its range of Canadian-made products, some of which are unique to the brand.

As for the big American retailers like Walmart or Costco, it’s important to note that they have a fairly significant local presence. They create jobs in the communities where they operate, and include a wide variety of Canadian products in their inventory.

You can factor these factors into your purchasing decision, according to your priorities and personal values.

Rising Tariffs: Tips for Choosing Canadian-Made Products and Saving on Groceries - Grocery store program

Alternatives for Canada’s Best Products

There are many ways for you to choose a Canadian product and earn valuable points at the same time. Whether you’re a fan of Canadian retailer rewards programs like PC Optimum, Moi or Scene+, or prefer to maximize your points with a credit card, the choice is yours.

In the end, it’s up to you to adopt the strategy that best suits your habits, values and budget. The key is to shop thoughtfully, while earning as many points as possible at each checkout.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare

What is a « Product of Canada”?

The « Product of Canada” label means that the product is made with 98% Canadian ingredients.

What does the « Made in Canada« label mean?

This « Made in Canada” label indicates that at least 51% of the content is of Canadian origin.

When will the U.S. president’s tariff hike for Canada take effect?

There was a one-month reprieve. The date of entry of the tariff hike on Canadian imports from the U.S. is to be confirmed according to Donald Trump, but it could be in effect by early March 2025.

Does Mexico have a deal on US tariff hikes?

Not yet. The date of entry of the tariff threat has yet to be confirmed, but it could be effective in March 2025 in Mexico.

How do tariff increases in Canada and Mexico work?

Nothing is in effect yet. We will know by the beginning of March 2025.

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American Express Cobalt^® Card

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	5
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xConvenience
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas & EV
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828

2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.

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Alternatives – American Products to Replace With Canadian Products

Here are some delicious home-grown products and brands to help fight rising tariffs:

Alternatives for Canadian Products: Beer and Alcohol

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Beverages

BioSteel, Boissons 1642, bull’s Head, Rise, The pop Shoppe.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Bakery

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Coffee

49th Parallel, Balzac’s Coffee, Café William, Kicking Horse, Second Cup, Van Houtte.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Snacks

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Bottled Water

Clearly Canadian, Eska, Montellier, Nutrinor.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Flour

Arva Mills, Creative Baker, Five Roses, La Milanaise, Prairie Flour Mills.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Juice

Allen’s, Del Monte, Fruité, Grown Right, Hydra+, Kiju organic, Oasis, Old South, Rougement, Ruby Kist, SunRype.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Milk, Cheese and Other Dairy Products

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Vegetables

Artic Gardens, Aylmer, Putter’s and Cavendish Farms.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Pet Food

Horizon, Nutrience, Performatrin, Pet Kind, Red Dog Blue Kat, Royal Canin (made in Canada by an American company), Skoki.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Hot Sauce

BBQ Quebec, Damn! La Pimenterie, Firebarns, La Voie Maltée, Peppermaster, Roi de la Sauce.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Personal Care

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Tea

Amoda, DavidsTea, Four O’Clock, Pluck Tea.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Meat and Meat Substitutes

Gardein, Gaspésie, Lilydale, Maple Leaf, Maple Lodge Farms, Olymel, Pillers, Schneiders, Yves.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Yogurt

Astro, Riviera, Skotidakis.

Alternatives for Canadian Products – Others

Another Way to Save at the Grocery Store

By leveraging rewards points with a credit card, your points will multiply faster than hotcakes.

You can save up to 6% with various credit cards, depending on your loyalty program:

–	Basic accumulation	Program-affiliated credit card discount	Credit card cash back with accelerated grocery discounts
MOI	0.8% (except Super C)	1.6% with the moi RBC Visa Card	5 % American Express Cobalt^® Card National Bank World Elite Mastercard BMO CashBack^® World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card
PC Optimum	None	3,33 % World Elite Mastercard PC	5 % National Bank World Elite Mastercard BMO CashBack^® World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*
Scene+	None	6 % Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card 3 % Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card	5 % American Express Cobalt^® Card National Bank World Elite Mastercard BMO CashBack^® World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card

–

Basic accumulation

Program-affiliated credit card discount

Credit card cash back with accelerated grocery discounts

MOI

0.8% (except Super C)

1.6% with the moi RBC Visa Card

5 %

World Elite Mastercard PC

PC Optimum

None

3,33 %

5 %

Scene+

None

6 %

Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card

3 %

5 %