Statement from Chamber President Garry Douglas:

Given that the U.S.-Canadian dynamic in all of its many forms is arguably the single biggest driving force in the North Country economy, we were right to feel relief when the President's executive orders called for a substantive review of trade relationships versus immediate tariffs. A review and assessment allows time to clarify facts about the U.S.-Canada economic partnership that are unique and for bi-national discussions, finding ways forward where needed. But then the stated possibility of a 25% across the board tariff on Canada being applied on February 1st shifts the landscape back to real concern. We and our partners on both sides of the border now have as few as ten days to avert a trade war which would see the Plattsburgh area on the front line.

Such an action would harm the economies of both countries, exacerbated by the reverse tariffs on the U.S. that Canada would have no choice but to apply. Here in the North Country, we are dependent on dozens of manufacturers with cross-border supply chains, that being a key reason to be here. Plus, our warehouse, distribution and customs brokerage operations. Plus, energy, from all of our natural gas coming from Canada, part of our electricity coming from Quebec, and heating fuel often sourced from Montreal. Plus, construction with materials like cement and asphalt being efficiently sourced from the north. And pushing Canada into recession couldn't help but diminish cross-border travel and tourism.

It is notable that this situation is only partly about trade and economics, instead involving the interaction of three policy buckets: Trade, Border Security and Defense. Canada is working actively to address all three, including a major recent package of border related commitments, supplemented by commitments from provincial governments including Quebec and Ontario.

The stakes are high nationally, bi-nationally and locally and so we remain in active collaboration with many partners, hoping the February 1st date will pass without such a move, allowing communications to continue and shared success and prosperity to be pursued.