Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
August 24 , 2026
ATLANTA — Waffle House announced Monday that it will stop serving maple syrup at its restaurants, citing President Donald Trump’s trade policies toward Canada.
The announcement comes amid a period of heightened trade tensions between the United States and Canada, with tariffs and retaliatory measures affecting a range of goods. Trump has repeatedly argued that tariffs are necessary to protect American industries and reduce the United States’ trade deficit.
In a statement, Waffle House executives said the restaurant chain would remove maple syrup from its tables and replace it with a vegan alternative. The company described the move as a necessary response the administration’s trade strategy.
“We believe American diners can continue to enjoy pancakes and waffles without upsetting the President,” the company said in the statement.
Canada is the world’s largest producer of maple syrup. Canadian officials and industry representatives have previously warned that tariffs and other trade barriers could hurt producers on both sides of the border.
The White House did not immediately comment on the Waffle House announcement. Trump has made tariffs a central part of his economic agenda, including measures affecting Canada, Mexico and other major U.S. trading partners.
For Waffle House customers, however, the policy would mean a change to a familiar breakfast-table staple. The company said it expected the transition to vegan substitute to occur gradually at its more than 2,000 restaurants.
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