A 25-per-cent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries, British Columbia Premier David Eby said Wednesday ahead of a meeting with fellow premiers and the prime minister.
Eby said before the meeting that the lumber and forestry sectors are already strained by a recent increase in duties amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada dispute over softwood lumber. B.C. is a source of natural gas, wood products, minerals and other products that U.S. businesses depend on, Eby said, and the tariff would hinder jobs and opportunities in the province while making "life more expensive for Americans."
Eby said B.C. officials had repeatedly raised concerns with Ottawa over organized crime and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, in relation to border security.But Eby said it "doesn't justify the tariffs." Legault said Wednesday that Ottawa shouldn't try to deny that there's a problem and instead present a plan to reassure Trump that Canada's border is secure."There are 13 of us plus the prime minister. It's a big group of people with different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we're protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we're completely in line on that question.
"In Korea, in Japan, Singapore, these are really important relationships for British Columbia, and they will provide some buffer for us in moments like this."