The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is speaking out against newly announced tariffs on Canadian goods being exported to the United States. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs of 50 per cent on Canadian goods, such as wine, in response to what his administration calls discriminatory trade policies, specifically citing provincial bans on U.S. alcohol, dairy supply management and car import quotas. The new tariffs will take effect in 30 days. In a Tuesday statement, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce said it is deeply concerned about the decision, saying the tariffs once again create uncertainty for businesses, workers and communities in both Canada and the United States. “Tariffs are taxes that ultimately increase costs, reduce competitiveness and create uncertainty for businesses making investment and hiring decisions,” said Chuck Davidson, president and 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.” In the statement, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce wants both the Canadian and provincial governments to work collaboratively with the U.S. to seek a timely resolution to the tariff issue. U.S. alcohol ‘stays off the shelves’: premiers One of the reasons cited for the latest tariff threat is the ban on American booze happening in some provinces, including Manitoba. But it doesn’t appear anyone is backing down. Premier Wab Kinew wrote in a social media post that American booze will remain off store shelves until a fair trade deal is reached. “Taking (American) booze off Liquor Mart shelves is having an impact,” Kinew posted Tuesday on X. “If Trump wants to negotiate an end to the trade war he started, we’re happy to get a fair deal. Until then, US booze stays off the shelves.” B.C. Premier David Eby offered a similar response. “There is not a chance in hell that U.S. alcohol is going back on the shelf,” Eby said Tuesday during a premiers’ conference in Charlottetown, P.E.I. ‘We feel a little sideswiped’ Goods impacted in the latest round of tariffs include hockey sticks, wigs and honey, which a Manitoba producer said would have an impact. “We feel a little sideswiped right now,” said Ian Steppler, chair of the Manitoba Beekeeper’s Association. “We don’t understand why honey has been included in this whole list of tariffs.” Steppler said the honey industry sends between three and four million pounds of honey south of the border, returning between $6 and $8 million to Manitoba’s economy. Steppler said the tariffs will have an impact on his business, saying American buyers would source honey from other countries rather than pay the extra cost. “Losing one of our biggest buyers of our product, within the production season that we’re approaching right now, has added a lot of stress to producers,” he said. Davidson said the latest tariff announcement shows Manitoba and Canada need to become less reliant on the U.S. “This is something that they kind of started with us so I think there’s a real sense we can’t sit idly by and let these things continue to happen,” he said. -With files from CTV’s Stephanie Ha and Jeff Keele
