The City of Medicine Hat's Economic Development department can play the role of facilitator, says its director. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

BUSINESS

U.S. tariffs on Canadian products would have regional impact, Medicine Hat officials say

Nov 26, 2024 | 2:11 PM

Officials in Medicine Hat say any U.S. tariffs on Canadian products would have a significant impact on regional industries.

Selena McLean-Moore, manager director of the city’s economic development agency, said in a recent interview that her team has an important role as a facilitator for impacted industries.

“We have to support them to diversify their markets, so the ones that are strictly exporting to the U.S. — which we have a lot of them — we need to be able to support them in finding other markets to be able to ship their product to,” McLean-Moore told CHAT News.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce had estimated a trade war spurred by a 10 per cent U.S. tariff floated earlier in the year would result in about $1,100 in forgone annual income for people in Canada and the United States.

The author of the report, University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, said in a post Monday that a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian imports that could cause a recession.

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Lisa Dressler, executive director of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, said her organization is aligned with other chambers across the country and across the border.

“There’s an equivalent U.S. chamber of commerce that would have the same concerns. When we look at tariffs and protectionist measures, it’s never good for business,” Dressler said.

Alberta-U.S. bilateral trade was worth $188 billion in 2023. Energy products accounted for more than 80 per cent of that trade, figures show.

“(The) U.S. and Canada have had a long standing strong bilateral trading agreement, and I think it’s important to uphold and maintain that over time,” Dressler said.

“We share a border, and you know that cross border, traffic and import and export has to be top of mind.”

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said Monday he’ll sign an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico.

Trump said the tariffs would remain in place until the two countries clamp down on drugs and migrants crossing the border illegally into the U.S.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote in a post to his social media platform.

“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

Leaders of the Prairie provinces are urging Canada to act on American concerns over illegal cross-border traffic of people and drugs to stave off the looming threat of 25 per cent tariffs.

Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday that Canada must do better to address the concerns of its largest trading partner.

In a video posted to social media, Alberta’s premier said Canada needs to reach its pledged commitment on defence.

Lisa Dressler is the executive director of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

“If their trade partners are looking to be free riders on American security interests, that’s also going to harm the relationship,” Smith said, adding, “You also have to take seriously the asylum seekers.”

Smith added in another post that the incoming Trump administration has “valid concerns related to illegal activities” at the border.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has convened an emergency meeting for Wednesday with the country’s premiers to discuss the tariffs.

— with files from the Canadian Press