April 7, 2025
Al Phillips – President
SWEEPING U.S. TARIFFS AGAINST CANADA have people across the country seriously concerned. The 25 per cent tariffs on most goods and 10 per cent on oil and gas have potential to impact our economy and and threaten important industries.
These actions indicate a change in our trade relationship with the U.S. and will have lasting effects regardless of how the situation unfolds. Now is the time to focus on solutions to support Canadian businesses and workers and to build resiliency for our province and country.
The Canadian and American economies are deeply intertwined, developing over the course of more than 150 years of collaboration. In 2022, 81 per cent of B.C.’s agricultural exports and 68 per cent of seafood exports went to the U.S. The impact of tariffs on B.C.’s economy, particularly its resource-based industries, cannot be ignored. These tariffs represent not only a financial challenge, they strike at the very core of a relationship which was built on trust, shared economic interests and decades of co-operative progress.
Every region of Canada will feel the impact of these tariffs. While the Trump tariffs alone will create challenges, the necessary retaliatory tariffs will only make things worse for workers and their families. Construction costs will increase, supply chains will be disrupted, small and medium-sized businesses will face difficulties, and the energy sector, especially oil and gas, will have to find new markets. The effect on B.C.’s lumber industry will be particularly severe, as U.S. builders currently rely on Canadian producers for about 30 per cent of their lumber needs, according to the BC Lumber Trade Council.
In response to this changing economic landscape, Premier David Eby has convened a task force composed of leaders from business, labour and Indigenous communities. I am proud to represent UA Local 170 and the BC Building Trades unions on the BC Trade and Economic Security Task Force. In our initial meeting with Premier Eby and other leaders from across British Columbia, it was clear that we are all united and aligned in our mission: to protect jobs, support our workers and find innovative solutions to these unforeseen challenges.
The task force is focused on diversifying economic opportunities and strengthening co-operation between provinces. Strategies include creating new trade networks, investing in technology, supporting regional development, improving workforce training and removing barriers that have held B.C. back.
We are navigating uncertain and challenging times and the impact will be felt across every region, industry and community in Canada. This is a crucial moment that demands swift action and collective solidarity. As Canadians, we have a long-standing history of overcoming adversity, and now more than ever, we must unite in the face of these challenges.
Given the newfound unpredictability of our relationship with the U.S., it is essential to safeguard our sovereignty and protect the well-being of our workers and our families. By focusing on what we can control — bolstering our industries, supporting local businesses and prioritizing Canadian-made products — we will build a more self-reliant and resilient economy. The choices we make today will pave the way for a stronger, more prosperous future for all Canadians.
By Al Phillips,
President