The B.C. government says it’s “disappointing” that the United States is imposing a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum exports.
“Many people in B.C. earn their living in the aluminum industry. Canada’s exports of aluminum create good, family-supporting jobs and are important to the economy,” said Premier John Horgan and Michelle Mungall, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness in a joint statement issued this morning.
“Our aluminum exports do not harm the U.S. market. In fact, U.S.-imposed tariffs will hurt the American economy. We also note much of the U.S. aluminum sector opposes any re-imposition of tariffs.”
U.S. president Donald Trump claimed Canada was dumping aluminum into the U.S. and, thus, imposed the tariff. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said this morning that Canada will retaliate.
“It is unfortunate that the U.S. is taking this step at a time when our countries should be celebrating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement and working together to help each other economically recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Horgan and Mungall. “We will continue to defend B.C.’s aluminum sector and its workers, and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the federal government in opposing unfair tariffs placed on our exports.”