Trump tariffs ‘don’t make sense’, says British Columbia premier Eby

OTTAWA: Canada’s British Columbia Premier David Eby on Saturday (February 1) said the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Canada “don’t make sense”.

The comments came after Trump signed an executive order imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent on imports from China, potentially disrupting more than $2.1 trillion worth of annual trade.

Addressing British Columbians in a televised statement, Eby said the tariffs do not achieve Trump’s goal of economic growth for the United States.

He said, “These tariffs don’t make sense. They don’t achieve [Trump’s] goal of economic growth for the United States. We provide so much of what the United States needs. And they are simply unjustified because we’re here to do this work together.”

He added that Canada is taking steps towards reducing its reliance on the US by diversifying its trading relationships and expanding partnerships with countries in Asia, Europe, and other regions. At the same time, the government is working closely with provincial governments to eliminate trade barriers within Canada, ensuring that all provinces prioritise Canadian products and services.

British Columbia’s government is also taking a proactive approach to mitigating the impact of tariffs on its workforce, adding that programmes are already in place to support individuals whose jobs will be affected by these tariffs. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the province’s economic growth, allowing it to thrive without being dependent on the United States, Eby said.

He added, “We’ll make sure that British Columbians who are losing their jobs as a result of these tariffs are supported in two ways. One is with programmes to ensure that you and your family get through this. And the other is by growing and strengthening our economy so that we have jobs that are not dependent on the United States, using our resources to ensure that we’re delivering that strong and independent economy. So you and your family have a prosperous future here, regardless of whatever happens south of the border in terms of the politics there.”