VICTORIA, B.C.: British Columbia cannot afford a trade war, but that’s exactly where the NDP’s reckless and reactive trade policies have led us.
The Trump administration’s new 50% tariffs on Canadian autos, alcohol and dairy specifically cite the removal of American alcohol from store shelves as one of the reasons for escalating the dispute. The NDP imposed a ban without thinking through the consequences, and now British Columbians are paying the price.
“Canada exports three to four times the volume of alcohol to the United States than it imports,” said Lawrence Mok, MLA for Maple Ridge East and Shadow Minister for Trade. “British Columbians are free to boycott American products. But when government imposes a ban, it invites retaliation. We believe B.C. should be negotiating a reduction or elimination of tariffs on forest products in exchange for lifting the ban on American alcohol. That’s how you protect B.C. jobs and B.C. industry, not by clinging to a policy that was reactive and shortsighted from the start.”
Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. placed responsibility for BC’s exposure on the current government’s record.
“These tariffs will undoubtedly hurt B.C.’s economy, but the NDP has been hurting it for years,” said Findlay. “David Eby is trying to blame his economic failures on tariffs, but B.C.’s economy was already suffering from the NDP’s de-industrialization policies long before this trade dispute. A Conservative government will restore stable trade, stand up for B.C. industries, get our economy growing again, and put jobs ahead of political theatre.”
Findlay added that B.C. needs a government that negotiates from strength instead of reacting from panic. “British Columbia’s best days are ahead of us, but only with a government willing to make smart trade decisions instead of knee-jerk ones. We will keep pushing for a resolution that protects B.C. jobs, B.C. exporters, and B.C. families.”
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