'Needs to be taken seriously': B.C. premier and business community react to promised Trump tariffs
CTV
The B.C. government and business leaders across the province are urging President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his promised 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports.
The B.C. government and business leaders across the province are urging President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his promised 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports.
Premier David Eby took to social media with a short message: “Trump’s tariffs would hurt Canadians and Americans alike. Canadians must stand united. Ottawa must respond with strength. We’ll never stop fighting for British Columbian families.”
On Monday, Trump said he would impose the tariff on the United States’ neighbours Canada and Mexico until they clamp down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border, in a move that would appear to violate a free-trade deal.
According to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the U.S. is B.C.’s most important trading partner, accounting for 54 per cent of the province's commodity exports last year.
“This robust partnership supports tens of thousands of jobs, fuels economic growth and bolsters the prosperity of communities on both sides of the border,” said Bridgette Anderson, the CEO and president of GVBT.
“The announcement by President-elect Donald Trump is very concerning and needs to be taken seriously.”
Anderson went on to say that the two allies need to engage constructively to advance collective interest, which would include prioritizing cutting off the flow of illicit drugs.
