The BC Prime Minister David Eby has announced immediate countermeasures in response to incoming American tariffs, saying that the province will take measures to protect BC workers and companies.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, EBY criticized tariffs as a betrayal of long data relationship between Canada and the United States, said the province would remain firm in front of what it called an “unprecedented attack.”
As an initial response, Eby said that he has directed the BC Liquor distribution branch that stops buying the American liquor of “red states” led by Republicans and eliminates the best -selling brands of public liquor stores.
He also ordered the BC government and the Corona Corporations that prioritize Canadian goods and services in acquisition decisions.
“Americans are larger, but if we don’t defend ourselves, they will continue to return for more,” he said.
This occurs on the same day that the US president, Donald Trump, signed executive orders that will confirm that he will impose a 25 percent rate to most Canadian imports as of Tuesday, with a 10 percent tariff on the products of Canadian energy.
The promised tariffs for a long time could completely overturn the BC economy, and the prime minister said previously that tariffs would hit more than the financial crisis of 2008.
A government analysis published in January showed that the rates, if lasted the entire Trump mandate until 2028, would lead the province to lose around $ 69 billion.
BC Prime Minister David Eby threatened to ban US alcohol in the province if President Donald Trump imposes a 25 percent rate on Canadian goods. But Canadian artisanal distilters say it could be an opportunity to change interprovincial liquor restrictions.
It is estimated that 54 percent of BC exports go to the United States, according to provincial figures, which makes it the largest commercial partner of British Columbia. About 14 percent of BC exports go to China, 11 percent to Japan and 10 percent go to other jurisdictions in Asia.
The projected analysis that the rates would also give rise to 124,000 jobs less in BC in the next three years, which will cause the unemployment rate to increase to 6.7 percent in 2025, and 7.1 percent in 2026.
EBY had previously pressed for retaliation rates and export prohibitions if tariffs were carried out, including a prohibition of importation of American alcohol.
He also hinted at an export prohibition of critical minerals manufactured in the province. Metal minerals and metallurgical coal, taken together, are the largest source of BC export value, according to BC statistics.
The prime minister had also announced a “war room” composed of government ministers and interested parties to assume the tariff threat.
Eby is part of a prime minister contingent who will visit Washington, DC, at the end of this month to present the case against tariffs, that the prime minister has said that he would harm Americans and Canadians equally.
“This is like family members fight. These are friends for a long time they refuse to talk to each other. It’s strange,” he said at a press conference on January 28.
“We have so many shared priorities and interests and shared prosperity, but we will not go back alone because the stalker is more powerful and bigger than us.”
The Word of Words about the imminent commercial fight of Canada-United States is heating. As Katie Derosa reports, BC’s prime minister is doubling the potential of retaliation rates while the province prepares for an economic crisis.
In the executive order signed on Saturday, Trump made a specific mention of British Columbia and his role in “high national fentanyl production.”
Trump had cited the smuggling of the illegal opioid as the initial impetus for punishment tariffs, along with the flow of illegal migrants on the border with United Canada.
A report by the Canada Financial Intelligence Agency said last week that it was suspected that several national groups played a role in the Canadian Fentanyl market, “with most operating in British Columbia as producers and distributors.”
Customs figures and border protection of the United States (CBP) show that the agency seized 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl on the Canadian border last year, compared to the a whopping of 9,592 kilograms in the Mexican.
