Manitobans react to new tariffs from U.S.

The Manitoba Chamber of Commerce says it is “deeply concerned by the United States government’s decision to impose new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.”

The Chamber says the move creates unnecessary uncertainty for businesses, workers, and communities on both sides of the border, especially since the United States is the province’s biggest trading partner.

“Tariffs are taxes that ultimately increase costs, reduce competitiveness, and create uncertainty for businesses making investment and hiring decisions,” said Chuck Davidson, President & CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “At a time when both countries should be focused on strengthening North American competitiveness, these unnecessary measures move us in the wrong direction.”

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is calling on both the federal and provincial governments to work collaboratively with the U.S., saying “businesses want certainty, stability, and a rules-based trading environment that allows companies to invest, grow, and create jobs.”

Manitoba Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Davidson says looming tariffs once again create a sense of uncertainty for local businesses.

“Obviously disappointed that the president has decided to go down this path again,” said Davidson. “The U.S. are really becoming an unreliable trade partner for us.”

Davidson highlighted the need to diversify trade and look for markets overseas or looking within Canada.

“We’ve talked about getting rid of the internal trade barriers. How can we do trade more east–west within our own country more so than north-south,” Davidson explained.

Barbara Shumeley spends her days buying school supplies and clothing for refugee children in Manitoba, and is relieved she’s completed her most recent shop as she worries the tariffs might affect her wallet, making her charity work more challenging.

“It’s getting harder and harder. Tariffs are obviously a big part of it, and I am just trying to do my part to help out with it,” said Shumeley.

Adrien Sala, Minister of Finance, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “The province will be reconvening council on our trade to hear firsthand how business leaders are responding to the tariffs, calling them ‘unnecessary and unjust action that threatens affordability and economic security on both sides of the border.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham said, “We need stability, we need stability in our province, stability in leadership, but we need to stably and consistently support our businesses at this time.”

President Donald Trump signed orders Monday to hammer certain Canadian products with 50 per cent tariffs, escalating trade tensions with the United States’ northern neighbour.

The new tariffs are set to come into force in 30 days on a wide array of goods, ranging from hockey sticks to wine to cement.

A senior White House official, who spoke to reporters on background on condition they not be named, said the measure is a response to provincial bans on U.S. liquor, Canada’s supply-managed dairy system and quotas on certain U.S. vehicles.

The officials said that, unlike many of Trump’s other tariffs, the new duties will have no exemptions for goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA.

The officials said the new tariffs will not apply to energy, potash, fish, critical minerals or other goods already being slammed by Trump’s separate sector-specific tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the tariffs, saying Canada will work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses and families.