Calgary Chamber of Commerce calls tariffs ‘deeply disturbing’ as Trudeau and Canadian premiers mull their response

Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Deborah Yedlin. (Courtesy Calgary Chamber of Commerce)

Calgary’s Chamber of Commerce and its members said the tariffs announced Saturday are deeply concerning and may have “severe consequences” on businesses and workers across the country.

“We have been clear: tariffs are bad economic policy — whether imposed by the U.S. or as retaliation — with the consequences borne by Canadians, Americans and businesses on both sides of the border," said Chamber president and CEO Deborah Yedlin, in a media release.

“We strongly encourage the federal government to focus on diplomacy and de-escalation and avoid further blows to our economy through retaliation.”

Earlier Saturday, it was announced that Canada and Mexico will be hit with 25 per cent tariffs, starting Tuesday, while China faces a 10 per cent tariff, the same as Canada’s energy industry.

The Calgary Chamber said retaliation should be seen “as a last resort option.”

Prime Minister Trudeau is expected to announce the Canadian response to the U.S. tariffs later Saturday afternoon, following a 4 p.m. meeting with Canadian premiers and his ministers.

The Calgary Chamber – along with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – warn that the economic impact of tariffs will ripple through key industries on both sides of the border, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy and technology, undermining the competitiveness of Canadian businesses and weakening the country’s position in the global marketplace.

To counteract U.S. tariffs, the Calgary Chamber issued a three-step approach.

The first is to build relationships with U.S. counterparts, to de-escalate the situation.

The second is to improve Canadian competitiveness by reducing internal barriers that reduce Canadian competitiveness.

The third is to build for the future by securing market access, advancing critical infrastructure such as pipelines and to increase defence spending to make good on the two per cent NATO commitment.

“We acknowledge the efforts already underway by policymakers and businesses on these fronts,” said Yedlin, who wrote at length about how to approach tariffs last week for CTV News.

“But we hope that this is seen and heard as a wake-up call. We’re at an inflection point: now is the time for a unified Team Canada approach — businesses and governments must lean into collaboration to navigate this challenge and secure our shared prosperity, and consumers can support by buying local and buying Canadian.”