• 3.3.25
• Press Release

CHAMBER CALLS FOR URGENT RESTRAINT ON TARIFFS ON CANADA

CHAMBER CALLS FOR URGENT RESTRAINT ON TARIFFS ON CANADA

The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hoping for urgent restraint on word that major U.S. tariffs on Canada of 10% on energy and 25% on everything else will go forward at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4.

"This is a trade war. And it's a trade war hitting two of the world's largest and most integrated economies, with the North Country right on the front line," says Garry Douglas, Chamber President. "It will take a bit of time for some costs to filter through the economy, but our region can expect higher costs for everything from electricity, heating fuel and gasoline to construction materials, with direct local impacts on manufacturers of all kinds, agriculture and almost every sector including tourism. Higher costs had already started in some sectors like construction as bids and estimates had begun to hedge against potential tariffs."

"We can only hope for two things as of 5:00 p.m. Monday. That there is a last minute reprieve in the final hours. Or, if not, that these self-harming tariffs on Canada are very short lived," Douglas adds. "But even if short lived, real damage will be done, not only economically but to our special cross-border relationship."