‘Nothing off the table’ in B.C.’s response to Trump tariffs: Eby

B.C. Premier David Eby says retaliatory tariffs are not out of the question as part of the province’s response to President Elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the United States.

Speaking in Langley Thursday, Eby said he has met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, fellow premiers, the BC Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade this week to strategize how to move forward. 

“What we’ve heard from the business sector is that these tariffs are absolutely going to have an impact in British Columbia,” said Eby. 

“A significant impact on jobs, on families here in the province, but also that these tariffs are going to have a huge impact on Americans as well, driving up the cost of energy, driving up the costs of housing, and making life more unaffordable for residents of the United States, and no one will benefit from this.”

He restated the notion that leaders across the country are unified in a “Team Canada” response to the threat.

On Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his province is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump imposes the tariffs.

When asked, Eby says he would carry out similar restrictions on western states if pushed to do so. He says B.C. sold a billion dollars worth of electricity to Washington, Oregon, and California last year, and the province is should be seen as equal to those states.

“When I say nothing’s off the table for British Columbia, nothing is off the table. I mean it. We will not stop until we are assured that the Americans fully understand how intertwined we are, and the consequences visited on British Columbians will not just be felt by British Columbians, they’ll also be felt by Americans,” said Eby. 

On Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she would not consider similarly cutting off oil and gas exports. 

“I don’t support tariffs on Canadian goods and I don’t support tariffs on U.S. goods. Because all it does is make life more expensive for everyday Canadians and everyday Americans,” said Smith.

Eby says he agrees with Smith for the most part. He says he’s frustrated that he’s being forced to even consider actions like retaliatory tariffs.

“I think these are ridiculous. I think we should be working closely with the United States and addressing concerns that they may have. Think they’re completely unjustified. I think both Canadian retaliatory tariffs and American tariffs that bring those retaliations in, that both of them are a huge waste of time, energy, money, productivity, and wealth. And so the idea that we’re headed down this path, to me, makes absolutely no sense.”

—With files from The Canadian Press