It hasn’t even been two weeks since Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports but businesses are growing increasingly concerned over a potential trade war. It’s something that could have a serious impact in the Durham Region.
“A tariff war doesn’t help anyone,” said Oshawa MP, Colin Carrie.
Oshawa MP Colin Carrie sat down with a group of local businesses on Tuesday to discuss what many are hoping will end before it starts — a tariff war.
“I think it’s very important that we work together as team Canada to address the threat of these tariffs on our economy,” said Carrie.
The meeting is part of the Conservative “Defend Local Jobs” tour around the country. The goal is to brainstorm and talk about the tariffs on steel and aluminum. Businesses in Durham know the longer this plays out, the more damage it will cause.
“We need the governments to get on this and get on this now,” said John Fledderus, Owasco vice-president.
“This is like elephant rabbit stew but we know what it’s going to taste like. If we don’t have effective trade which built this country, we’re all going to suffer greatly,” said Gary Valcour, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.
Tim McMenamin, vice-president of Ferrostaal Steel Canada Incorporated says the $16-billion American tariff on metals hasn’t affected his business out east but has in the west. He fears the latest situation will get out of hand if the government starts taxing other countries.
“If they have to pay 25 per cent more for that steel, eventually it all goes down to the consumer and it could create a lot of problems,” McMenamin said.
While it hasn’t happened yet, Fledderus is concerned things will get messy if tariffs get slapped on the automotive sector.
“We need to come up with a deal that’s good for both sides,” he said.
While Carrie says it was a productive meeting, he has more stops along southern Ontario in the coming weeks.
“Let’s work out a NAFTA agreement so that these tariff issues will go away,” said Carrie.
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