Ontario’s Chambers of Commerce are looking for relief and resolution to the trade dispute with the U.S.
The tariffs imposed last year by U.S. President Trump dominated discussions at the recent Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s annual general meeting.
Cathy Tysz, vice-chair of the Fort Frances Chamber, says they are widely impacting her community and its cost of living.
“The cost of trying to feed your family is almost impossible,” states Tysz in a release.
“Everything from indoor/outdoor carpeting for the boat deck to beach towels and sunscreen is now almost unreachable to most middle-income families. Things that we usually save for every year, but now that doesn’t even stretch enough to cover it.”
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Daniel Tisch, says the tariffs are devastating manufacturing in Canada and the U.S., and impacting the economies of both countries.
“These tariffs are not well-understood, and that’s why Ontario businesses are sounding the alarm,” states Tisch.
“Without swift relief, orders will vanish, investments will be shelved, and good jobs will be lost.”
The Chamber says businesses are already facing the strain of the tariffs.
Some have absorbed the added costs, but have also lost long-standing U.S. customers.
This has led some to scale back production, delay or cancel expansion plans or pause hiring.
“Businesses need two things from governments right now: relief and resolution,” says Tisch.
“In the short term, that means reinstating remissions and providing targeted cash-flow support. But we also need a durable fix, one that’s negotiated between the two nations.”
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is scheduled for a mandatory review in July.
The Ontario Chamber and its members want the governments to protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and remove the barriers that put jobs and communities at risk.
