The impact of US tariffs has been felt across Canada, but being a border city means Abbotsford businesses that rely on the American market are being hit particularly hard.
As a Council, we’ve heard firsthand how businesses are pivoting and being challenged by the tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. Some Abbotsford businesses export more than 80 percent of their goods to the United States. For them, tariffs mean re-evaluating supply chains, pausing their expansion plans and seeking more viable options like accessing new markets or even opening US-based operations. These are difficult, costly and time-consuming decisions.
On July 16, the Province of British Columbia, City of Abbotsford, Chilliwack Economic Partners, and Mission Bridgehead Investment Corporation came together for an event focused on BC’s response to US tariffs on Canadian goods. The event was part of a provincial outreach and factfinding tour for Rick Glumac, who until July 17’s cabinet shuffle was BC’s Minister of State for Trade. This was the largest stop on the provincial tour to date with more than 60 people in attendance representing Fraser Valley businesses and organizations.
Mayor Siemens and Councillors Driessen, Gibson and Ross were among those present, listening to the stories and questions of business owners and staff. The Mayor spoke about the challenges US tariffs pose to local businesses and the importance of government inviting those businesses to the table to work collaboratively to find solutions. The Mayor touched on some of these points last month while attending a roundtable on trade co-hosted by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey.
Minister Glumac was joined by ministry staff and representatives from Trade and Invest BC, and the Export Navigator program, a Provincially and Federally funded initiative which helps guide local entrepreneurs through the export planning process. Together they provided an overview of the implications of tariffs for BC businesses and measures the Province is taking to support BC businesses, including:
- speeding up permitting
- reducing internal trade barriers
- attending international trade missions
- assisting with CUSMA compliance to avoid some tariffs
- helping businesses access new markets
- sharing Federal resources and opportunities for tariff remission
This was followed by a panel discussion led by the Director of UFV’s School of Business Dr. Khyati Shetty featuring speakers from three Fraser Valley businesses: Abbotsford’s Longboard Architectural Products, Tycrop Trailers of Chilliwack, and Maven Transport from Mission. The business leaders discussed the impacts of American tariffs on their businesses and how they’ve had to adapt. They also detailed regulatory changes they would like to see at the Provincial level to make BC businesses more competitive.
The Minister and ministry staff were receptive to the very frank feedback and the Minister said that he’s seeing an increased appetite for business-friendly reform in government in response to US tariffs. He encouraged BC businesses to submit specific feedback and suggestions to britishcolumbia.ca/for-bc-businesses/us-tariffs.
It was encouraging to see the Province engaging with the Fraser Valley business community. US tariffs affect all of us and it will take a coordinated effort across business and government to weather this economic uncertainty.
Abbotsford City Council