B.C. groups urge lower business barriers amid U.S. tariff escalation

British Columbia business groups are calling for lower trade and regulatory barriers as new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods take effect.

Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, said the tariffs unfairly target B.C. businesses and threaten jobs, investment and economic growth. She called for reduced internal trade barriers, trade-enabling infrastructure, export diversification and progress on major resource and industrial projects.

The latest escalation follows the breakdown of talks between Ottawa and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump also threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian automobiles and auto parts to 50 per cent starting Jan. 1, while Prime Minister Mark Carney promised dollar-for-dollar retaliation by Sept. 8.

Jeremy Heighton of Business Improvement Areas of BC said governments should reduce the cumulative burden on small businesses. Premier David Eby described the tariffs as an economic attack and said Canada should not limit trade with other countries at U.S. direction.