Manufacturers, exporters in N.B. prepare for worst with Trump tariffs
Threat couldn’t come at a worse time, says Canada-U.S. relations expert
Canadian manufacturers are left worrying as the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump looms in less than two weeks.
With a threat of 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports to the U.S., the country is also preoccupied with a prime minister set to step down and a prorogued parliament.
Ron Marcolin, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island divisional vice-president for Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, said businesses around the country have been surveyed recently about their level of concern.
"I think it's very fair to say that manufacturers in Canada, and certainly in New Brunswick, they're battening down the hatches," Marcolin said, in an interview with CBC Radio's Shift.
He added that many companies are examining all aspects of their business to understand what might be affected, and some have implemented hiring freezes as they wait to see if the tariffs come through.
"They're saying, you know, it's uncertain times. It's a risk. We don't want to staff-up immediately," he said.
Here’s how N.B. manufacturers are preparing for Trump’s threatened tariffs And some businesses are more connected to the U.S. than others.
"If they have multiple plants and they happen to have a plant in the United States, they're looking to shift production to the U.S. so they can ... not even be involved in the whole ... mess."
Businesses depend on predictability and being able to have a sense of what profits and costs will be, Marcolin said.
"So it's all about predictability and this certainly throws a wrench into it."
He said tariffs would not only be devastating to New Brunswick, but to the whole country. When Trump previously implemented tariffs, in 2018 and 2020, they were specific, while this threat is overarching.
"Anything you buy, you know, at your favourite Walmart, Costco, you name it, products across the board in Canada will be affected," Marcolin said.
"So we are attempting, with the help of our sister organization in the United States, to lobby the people around Trump and his entourage to have a better understanding of what the implications are."
Upwards of 80 per cent of products made in New Brunswick are for export, predominantly to the U.S., and many manufacturers are still struggling to get past COVID and inflation issues, he said.
"This is just going to add to the angst," and on top of that are the political challenges facing Canada at the same time.
"We obviously know who Donald Trump is. But on the Canadian side, we don't know, obviously, who our next prime minister will be."
Timing couldn't be worse, expert says
Xavier Delgado, a senior program associate with the Canada Institute in Washington, D.C., agrees.
"Meanwhile, up in Ottawa, we have a prime minister who, on Jan. 6, effectively made himself a lame duck, has purged Parliament and set what is effectively going to be the start of an election," Delgado said.
Timing of Trudeau resignation will make for difficult U.S. relations, expert saysThe first 100 days of a president's administration are often most effective because they set their highest priorities and have the most support, he added.
"The first two-thirds of those hundred days are going to be spent with a prorogued Parliament and a lame-duck prime minister, and the last third is going to be spent in an election."
Canada will be without a clear mandate to handle U.S. relations until April 30, at the earliest, Delgado said.
"That's why I think Canada's vulnerable to the U.S. ambitions."
Delgado said the only person who knows if these tariffs are going to go into effect, or if they're just a negotiating tactic, is Trump himself.
"I'm going to be very closely watching in the coming weeks how the Liberal Party candidates put forward their vision on Canada-U.S. relations," he said.
"But I'll also be watching to see how the Conservative Party and the NDP and other political leaders across Canada respond."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Shift and Clare MacKenzie
Trudeau The Younger and his minions know I have been dealing with Trump and his cohorts since he was demanding to see Obama's birth certificate
David Amos
David Amos
"I think it's very fair to say that manufacturers in Canada, and certainly in New Brunswick, they're battening down the hatches," Marcolin said, in an interview with CBC Radio's Shift.
He added that many companies are examining all aspects of their business to understand what might be affected, and some have implemented hiring freezes as they wait to see if the tariffs come through."
David Amos
I remember this dude playing dumb with me as we intervened in an EUB hearing
David Amos
The solution is easy for me to see
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to David Amos
Trade diversification, or what?
Michael Samson
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
we have that already
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Michael Samson
Total NB - US trade increased by $5.3 Billion from $16 billion in 2021, to $21 billion in 2022. This was comprised of a $2.5 billion increase in exports and a $2.9 billion increase in imports. Exports dominate New Brunswick – U.S. trade at about 66% of total trade over the eight-year period.
Michael Samson
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
And?
David Amos
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
Kings County Record June 22nd 2004
The Unconventional Candidate
David Amos Isn’t Campaigning For Your Vote, But….
By Gisele McKnight
FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his
wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone
that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos.
"What he’s fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood,
the exploitation of the Maritimes’ gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to
name a few.
"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing,
farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I’m
death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it
(NAFTA) out the window.
NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement which allows an
easier flow of goods between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Amos disagrees with the idea that a vote for him is a wasted vote.
"There are no wasted votes," he said. "I want people like me,
especially young people, to pay attention and exercise their right.
Don’t necessarily vote for me, but vote."
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Michael Samson
plenty of room for diversification, even in NB
Michael Samson
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
The why aren't they ?
Michael Samson
Reply to Michael Samson
Then
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to David Amos
So you want Canada not to renew the USMCA in 2026 (assuming that Canada, unlike Trump) still abides by international trade law till then? How would you get all CDN Premiers to agree, especially Ford with his integrated auto and Smith with her fixed pipeline infrastructure?
David Amos
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
Go Figure
https://docs2.cer-rec.gc.ca/ll-eng/llisapi.dll/fetch/2000/90464/90550/408788/408789/414223/427760/A%2D16_%2D%2D_A0V7T0_%2D_Service_to_David_Raymond_Amos.pdf?nodeid=427761&vernum=-2
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
I find these Premiers flip flopping from cutting off energy, to integrating energy shows no back bone other than their pocket books.
Ford a couple of day's ago talks of cutting off American Energy, then he goes on Fox, and talks of highly integrating Energy for Americans.
Talk about a spine of jelly ! ?
David Amos
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
I concur
Anne Wallenberg
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
yes, Ford's is a weird flip flop. At least Smith is consistent in her kowtowing.
David Amos
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
I disagree with your take on Smith
David Amos
Reply to Michael Samson
"sure you do"
I most certainly do recall dealing with Marcolin et al
Reply to David Amos
You don't think she's kowtowing?
David Amos
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
She certainly is but she is not consistent
Reply to David Amos
Agreed in general, but on the tariffs she's consistently kowtowing - not that that's a compliment.
David Amos
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
Everybody knows I have been butting heads with her since 2010
Reply to Michael Samson
"There is immediate reaction and then the politicians hear about it."
That's not to say Trump won't have specific Canadian industries he's gunning for, especially when it comes to upcoming NAFTA renegotiations in 2026.
"Trump has said on the record that he's looking with glee at those negotiations, particularly around the dairy industry … and on the automotive industry," said McKercher.
And with a federal election looming in the near future, McKercher said it will be important for the prime minister to develop a constructive relationship with Trump, whoever that may be.
Michael Samson
Reply to David Amos
be that as it may, Trudeau tried a tariff war that hurt more canadians than americans. A wise pragmatic leader would have recognized the obvious imbalance and tried a different route that didn;t involving trying to act tough
Denis Reagan
Reply to David Amos
Day jaw vous again?
Brian McHomen
Reply to Michael Samson
Reciprocal tariffs work just fine
Michael Samson
Reply to Brian McHomen
That's a blanket statement with no facts. They can work fine when there isn't such an imbalance. Trudeau thinks the budget will balance itself so it's not surprising he's confused on the tariff issue
Brian McHomen
Reply to Michael Samson
They worked rather well last time and will again. The State targeted won’t like them
Michael Samson
Reply to Brian McHomen
You have read no assessment if you think that. The state targetted will not like them but know full well it's a retaliatory thing from trudeau , so like everything else he tries, it won;t take long for the targeted states to be unburdened by them
Brian McHomen
Reply to Michael Samson
It’s from Canada. Not from the PM
Brian Robertson
All this wringing of hands and clutching of pearls.
Why not focus on controlling our borders as we should have been doing all along.
Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to Brian Robertson
Some of the premiers seem to get the point
David Amos
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
I can easily prove that they are getting my emails and phone calls
BD Morgan
Reply to Brian Robertson
The facts. Less than 1% of illegals and about one one thousandth of the fentanyl comes from Canada.
Brian Robertson
Reply to BD Morgan
Maybe.
I don't know the source of your 'facts'.
But I do know that we do have a responsibility as a neighboring Country to manage our Border appropriately. And a neighbor should not have to force us to do so.
ralph jacobs
I wonder what Trump will do if Canada does tighten up the border.
Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to ralph jacobs
Find something else to complain about
Attention is oxygen to him I think
Otto Wagner
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Ya. Classic bait and switch
David Amos
Reply to ralph jacobs
Trump can't come to Canada until he gets rid of his criminal record
Brian Robertson
Reply to ralph jacobs
Probably congratulate us for growing up and acting like responsible adults.
BD Morgan
Reply to ralph jacobs
I hope felons who show no remorse or rehabilitation are stopped at the border.
Michael Samson
Reply to David Amos
Yes i'm sure he's saddened by his inability to visit .
Denis Reagan
Why are we and the whole world not laughing at our clown down south? He never speaks the truth, always lies, makes promises and threats that are beyond imagination, but we all cringe from the joker without a joke. The media should allow cartoons displaying just what this clown is. Afraid to?
David Amos
Reply to Denis Reagan
Who is our clown down south?
Bobby Richards
Content Deactivated
Trudeau prorogued Parliament for a month in August 2020 during the WE charity scandal, which then-Conservative leader Andrew Scheer called “spineless” and a “disgusting attempt to make Canadians forget about his corruption.”
Look at us now. Prorogued for almost 80 days.
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
Relax and enjoy the circus that Maritmers have been paying for rather dearly since 1867