Mentioning Tariffs and Trends

Just in the last couple days, the Trump Presidency has announced 25 percent tariffs increases on Canada and Mexico along with a 10 percent increase on goods coming in from China. Even though this has sparked some distress in US food companies, I do not see this as a protracted trade war between Canada/Mexico and the United States. China is another matter since we still have a trade war going since President Trump’s first term. The reason I’m not worried about this being long term or even short term is because it’s being used as a negotiating tactic for the war on fentanyl. My thought is this well get worked out in the negotiating rooms very quickly and all parties well come to a solid resolution. We will keep an eye on that in the immediate future.

Now back in 2019, I discussed the observations of healthy food trends in the Middle East has not changed. The expansion and acceptance of “healthy food” products have taken on a new popularity across Europe and Asia. In mainland China for example, the natural food and beverage establishments are everywhere. As I have stated last year, countries that once couldn’t afford healthy food products (which we have enjoyed here in the United States for years) can afford it today. But as we know in America, just because you have healthy food products everywhere does not mean you’re not going to make the right choices. It still comes down to one’s discretion.

It's 2025 and is this trend catching on in the Middle East? Let’s examine this…the growth in the consumption of fast food and packaged food is a demographic shift situation. Young Middle Eastern adults are getting married later and living with their parents well into their late twenties and even early thirties. And women a generation ago got married before twenty are today delaying having kids and choosing careers. That means the Middle Eastern Millennials have more disposable income to go to restaurants or consume convenient food for expediency. Sound familiar? The cultural phenomenon I’m referring to has been going on here in the United States for years. And you are seeing the acceleration of this demographic shift more and more in China and other Asian countries.

So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the United States has captured a 50 billion plus export market of prepared and processed food products in the region. Middle Easterners are prospering in regions like the United Arab Emirates and with that comes fast paced lives. The demand for U.S. processed food products has a growing appeal and demand. However, as one finds out with fast foods and processed foods comes calories and carbohydrates! Obesity and diabetes are on the rise in the region. It wasn’t hard to find plenty of stories regarding Middle Eastern diets and the rise of these ailments due to the consumption of processed foods and sugary beverages.

Since 2019, we’ve seen a dramatic increase of U.S. natural and organic food products being exported into the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Turkey along with a handful of other Middle Eastern countries. The demand for processed and prepared foods isn’t declining anytime soon. The demographic shift situation is not exclusive to North America and Europe. It’s happening in the Middle East and Asia. What is fascinating to me is that the Middle East is facing the same food consumption problems that Asia and Europe are now experiencing. And like the United States…what soon follows in each region is the popularity of healthy foods. I like fast food as much as the next person. But I realized long ago that these foods should be enjoyed on a limited basis. Eating healthy takes dedication, discipline, and proper choice. It’s a learning curve everyone experiences…no matter where you live. And with that, I’ll see you in Dubai.