B.C. Premier David Eby said the provincial and federal governments are planning an in-kind response to threats of a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports to the United States.
“We’re putting on our Team Canada jerseys right now to stand with Canadians across this country against these tariff threats,” said Eby.
“This is not a fight that we wanted and it’s not a fight that we picked. In fact, we think it’s going to hurt Americans as badly as it does Canadians.”
Eby added the B.C. government has a three-part plan to respond to the possible tariffs, which US President Donald Trump said could be implemented on February 1.
The first part involves planning in solidarity with the federal and many other provincial governments.
“We’re supporting the federal government with direct responses and targeted tariffs at Republican districts to make sure that the party who is bringing these tariffs to us understands why trade increases prosperity in both of our countries,” said Eby.
However, Eby did not specify which products could be the target of retaliatory tariffs from Canadian governments, but he says nothing is off the table.
“Using targeted tariffs and non-tariff options like refusing to buy American alcohol products are absolutely on the table for British Columbia,” said Eby.
“In ordinary times, we have trade agreements with the Americans where we have where we have to their products like our own, but if they’re not going to abide by our trade agreements, then neither are we.”
The second part involves plans to set the province up for future success.
“I want to thank members of the business community, Indigenous community and labour community who will be joining us for a task force on trade and economic security for the province of British Columbia,” said Eby.
“It will be co-chaired by Tamara Vrooman from YVR, Jonathan Price from Teck and Bridgitte Anderson from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade to make sure we’re coordinating with companies, labour and Indigenous leadership so we’re responding as a province.”
Eby mentioned the task force will work toward fostering a stable economy for the province.
“They will work to strengthen our economy, expand our economic growth even in this time of threat and to make sure we don’t stay in this position of being so dependent on the United States,” said Eby.
“What President Trump has done, has let us know that a partner we’ve had for many, many years, who we trust and could rely on, can no longer be relied on. I will not allow British Columbia to stay in a position of being dependent on a partner we can’t count on.”
The third part of the B.C. government’s plan involves economic diversification.
“We’re going to be working with the federal government, as well as on our own account, to ensure we’re deepening and expanding our trade relationships with other countries around the world,” said Eby.
“This includes other countries that are also facing tariff threats and other threats from the United States. It gives us all the more reason to work together, deepen our relationships and diversify away from the United States.”
Eby stated the 25 per cent tariffs would have deep impacts on B.C. and Canada as a whole.
“For us, the tariffs mean the potential loss of tens of billions of dollars and more than 100,000 jobs,” said Eby.
“We’re going to stand up with the federal efforts to respond with targeted tariffs to make sure the Americans understand that we will not surrender.”
Eby believes the provincial and federal government’s actions intend to send a message to the US government.
“We will stand up for jobs, we will stand up for families and we will stand up for people in British Columbia and right across Canada to make sure the Americans are very clear that Canada is not for sale, that we will respond in kind and they will feel it,” said Eby.
– with files from Ryley McCormack, My Kootenay Now staff
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