Many of us have friends and family in the United States.
And few of us have lived through a time when Canada and the United States were not strong trading partners and allies.
This is part of what makes U.S. President Donald J. Trump's tariff's so distressing.
People are worried. And rightfully so.
Families depend on a strong and healthy economy that can sustain jobs, fund retirements and invest in the future. Businesses need market certainty to make investment decisions.
One of the things that makes me hopeful is knowing that there are good people in the United States and around the world who are standing with us against tariffs.
As B.C.'s Minister of State for Trade and a long-time member and past president of Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), I have been working across both international and interprovincial borders on shared issues of concern for years now.
Through PNWER, I've worked with the U.S. states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, and in the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Yukon.
My colleagues in PNWER hail from all sides of the political spectrum. We don't agree on everything, but one thing we all agree on is that respectful international relationships and trading partnerships are foundational to security and prosperity for everyone.
That's why PNWER delegates signed on to a resolution acknowledging the vital importance of the U.S.–Canada relationship and urging congress to uphold existing free-trade agreements.
Since that letter was first issued opposition to President Trump's tariffs has grown rapidly.
We've seen a growing coalition of ordinary Americans from all walks of life, U.S. governors, including the governors of Washington, Colorado, California and even Kentucky, say no to tariffs and state legislatures like Alaska are considering resolutions opposing tariffs.
From grandmothers in the streets, to bankers in board rooms, to workers on shop floors, to Republican representatives in the senate, Americans recognize these tariffs are bad for businesses, communities and families on both sides of the border.
And they are not alone.
With President Trump levying tariffs on every country in the world, he is spurring Canada and other countries to build stronger connections.
Just like his attacks have spurred collective efforts to bring down internal trade barriers in Canada that have long stifled innovation, entrepreneurship and worker mobility in our country.
As hopeful as we are to see people working together against President Trump's tariffs, we're not waiting for anyone to save us.
From retaliatory actions like taking U.S. liquor off BC Liquor store shelves, to proactive measures to bring down interprovincial trade barriers and accelerate major projects to expanding our trade diversification strategy, we are taking action as a province and a country to fight back and protect people and businesses from the impacts of tariffs today.
This is not a fight we asked for.
But we are taking action to defend ourselves and stand up to chaotic and destabilizing U.S. policies and make it clear that when President Trump pushes us, we push back. And many people throughout the United States and the world are pushing back with us.
For more information on PNWER, visit: https://www.pnwer.org/
— Rick Glumac, B.C. Minister of State for Trade
