“A lot of business leaders simply don’t understand the rationale of what he is trying to accomplish.”
That’s from Prince George Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Neil Godbout regarding the 25 percent tariffs to be imposed on all steel and aluminum imports including those from Canada from US President Donald Trump.
Luckily, Godbout told MyPGNow.com we have been through this song and dance before as Trump made a similar announcement during his first term.
“In many ways, this is a little bit more familiar territory in terms of what Canada and specific communities within the aluminum sector and this is what Kitimat can expect.”
Godbout added a recent report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says cities like PG, Kamloops and Nanaimo won’t feel the pinch as much, compared to other steel-producing centres such as Calgary and Hamilton.
“It is interesting to note that Kamloops is actually one of the least affected cities in Canada in terms of those direct effects. The thing is that the overall effect on the economy will be felt in Kamloops, Prince George and even Burns Lake.”
Godbout believes the sanctions will hurt American consumers just as much if not more than Canadians.
“It’s such short-sighted thinking and to go after steel and aluminum. From an American consumer as well as the companies who use steel and aluminum to make their products. So basically, if you are buying anything from dog food or if you are Boeing and you make airplanes and even the energy sector in the United States, these added costs will have to be passed down to the consumer and drive up inflation.”
Canada provides the largest source of foreign steel to the U-S by weight….nearly a quarter of steel imported by American businesses.
To read the Canadian Chamber of Commerce report on which cities will be most impacted by Trump’s Tariffs click here.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
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