Citing ‘Economic Wartime’, British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government supports a federal plan to respond to proposed US tariffs, up to and including potential export tariffs and targeted export bans.
Eby made the comments on Wednesday after meeting with prime ministers from across the country, in anticipation of US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada.
Eby said the prime ministers recognize “the importance of unity” and agree on the need to prepare for Trump to impose full tariffs of 25 percent.
“We have supported the federal government’s proposals on a tariff response and continue to support a tariff response as well as the possibility of export taxes as well as bans on the export of certain and strategic goods from Canada to the United States,” Eby said.
Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed that no one region of the country should “disproportionately bear the burden” in response to those potential tariffs, but added that “everything is on the table as potential responses.”
Eby said the premiers are also united on the need to remove inter-provincial trade barriers and work to expand trade partnership with countries other than the United States.
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British Columbia has also pushed Ottawa to speed up federal approval for major projects in British Columbia, including the extraction of critical minerals.
The province also fully supports Ottawa’s new border security plan.
“In particular regarding British Columbia’s concerns regarding money laundering, fentanyl and the importation of drug precursors as well as Ontario’s and Quebec’s immigration concerns,” he said.
While premiers sought to present a united front on Wednesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pointedly refused to sign on to the federal plan.
Smith, who has opposed banning oil and gas exports to the United States, posted on social media to explain her position.
“Federal government officials continue to float the idea of cutting off energy supplies to the United States, both publicly and privately, and imposing tariffs on exports of Alberta energy and other products to the United States,” she wrote.
“Until these threats stop, Alberta will not be able to fully support the federal government’s plan to address the threatened tariffs.”
Eby downplayed the potential division within Team Canada’s response to the tariffs, saying not everyone on board will agree on every tactic.
“Premier Smith has to do what she feels she needs to do in relation to her domestic constituency,” Eby said.
“I just know that as a Canadian and a British Columbian I will stand strong with the premiers to make sure that we don’t limit the tools available to the federal government to respond to this.”
The potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on British Columbia remains unclear, although experts say the forestry sector — a veteran of U.S. trade disputes — will likely be among the hardest hit.
“At some point, these tariffs will come back to factories. Low-cost regions will continue to produce. British Columbia is the highest-cost production region in North America,” said Ross Taylor, president of industrial consulting firm Ross Taylor Global.
So, if there is a cutback in business due to falling prices and rising costs… the BC mills will cut back first and foremost… and then the loggers will cut back too. It’s a house of cards after a while until you find the bottom.
Canadian leaders and industry are holding out hope that the United States will back off, or at least soften its stance on tariffs, although those hopes are beginning to fade as Trump’s inauguration approaches.
Trump is scheduled to take office on January 20, at which point the trade picture should become clearer.
&Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
