B.C. premier joins in ‘Team Canada’ response to Trump’s proposed tariffs

B.C. Premier David Eby says the province will “stand together” with the rest of Canada ahead of newly proposed tariffs for products sold to the United States.

Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order imposing a 25-per-cent tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, sending an immediate threat to its closest neighbours that could upend North American trade and supply chains.

The president-elect posted to Truth Social on Monday that enacting the duties will be among his actions on his first day back in the White House on Jan. 20 — Inauguration Day.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” the Republican posted.

Speaking at the Convention of the BC Federation of Labour Tuesday, Eby said the tariffs “will be devastating to workers on both sides of the border,” but added that Canada and B.C. will be negotiating from a “position of strength.”

“The impact on families will be profoundly significant. It’s important to recognize a couple of things: One is that Canada is a major customer of United States businesses. Just like we sell a lot of things to United States businesses, we buy more American stuff than France, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom combined,” said Eby.

“Americans are dependent on what we produce here in Canada. We are one of the top exporters to the United States, and certainly they are our number one customer as well. We have more in common with Americans than what separates us; focusing on that and how we can work together to strengthen and support working families across North America is critically important.”

Eby says his party has repeatedly called for increased port police to ensure what comes into B.C. is not contraband, to both improve life in the province, and address concerns raised in the U.S.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to the request from premiers to meet and discuss this issue and will be holding a virtual call Wednesday.

“It’s best that we be all pulling together on this. The ‘Team Canada’ approach is what works,” said Trudeau.

If imposed, the tariffs would cause massive economic disruptions, with more than $2 billion crossing the border every day. During Trump’s first term in office, Canada hit back with tit-for-tat tariffs over the steel and aluminum dispute. In recent weeks, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has hinted she’s prepared to do it again. 

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says there are still weeks to go, and the government is using that time to have conversations with American counterparts. 

“We’ll stand up for Canada. We’ll stand up for the workers. We’ll stand up for industry,” said Champagne. 

—With files from The Canadian Press