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B.C. could stop buying U.S. alcohol in response to Trump tariffs, premier says

Click to play video: 'B.C.’s three-part plan to take on Donald Trump and his punishing policies'
B.C.’s three-part plan to take on Donald Trump and his punishing policies
Responding to Donald Trump's threat to slap all Canadian products with a 25 percent tariff on February 1, David Eby says all options are on the table for the B.C. and federal governments. Richard Zussman reports. – Jan 21, 2025

B.C. Premier David Eby wants British Columbians to pay closer attention to products they are purchasing.

With the looming threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs, Eby said now is the time for all residents to support Canadian jobs.

“When you’re at the grocery store and you have a chance to buy a product right now, you’re looking carefully at the labels to support Canadian jobs and to support Canada at this critical time,” Eby said at a press conference on Tuesday.

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Does the B.C. premier have any indication of when Trump’s tariffs might be coming?

When asked if there was a decision at the provincial level to respond to the proposed tariffs, Eby said B.C. Liquor Stores are one of the biggest purchasers of American alcohol products, second only to Ontario.

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“And as a result, our decision not to purchase American alcohol definitely sends a message,” Eby said. “It is one of the things that could be on the table in response to these tariffs that are completely unjustified. They will hurt families here and in the United States. And using targeted tariffs, using non-tariff responses like refusing to buy American alcohol products, are absolutely on the table.”

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Eby said that, in ordinary times, the province can’t make those moves because it has trade agreements with the U.S.

“But if they’re not going to abide by our trade agreements then neither are we,” he added.

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Eby said he does not understand why Trump would impose these tariffs. “It’s not a fight we signed up for,” he said.

“But I assure every American and certainly, especially the president, the Canadians will fight. We will stand up and fight. That includes making decisions about how we spend our money. We will not spend money in a country that wants to do economic harm to Canadians.”

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Trump said on Monday that he expects the 25 per cent tariffs to come into effect on Feb. 1.

On Monday, before Trump mentioned a date for the tariffs, B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said the province would respond in kind.

While she did not give details about specific products B.C. might target, Bailey said “Everything is on the table.”

She referenced Eby’s press conference last week where he mentioned products including U.S. wine sold in B.C. liquor stores, Florida orange juice sold in B.C. grocery stores and Harley Davidson motorcycles sold in B.C.

“Of note, focusing on products that are particularly in red states where they will have impact and the potential to influence the people within Trump’s own party,” Bailey said.

“So I’ll state again that nothing would be off the table.”

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