B.C. announces cabinet ‘war room’ to fight U.S. tariff threat

Premier David Eby says 10 cabinet ministers will lead the response to Donald Trump's threatened tariffs – while the scope and start date remain unknown.

Premier David Eby has announced a new government “war room” tasked with protecting the British Columbia economy from the threat of tariffs south of the border.

A statement from the premier’s office Wednesday named 10 provincial cabinet ministers to the new committee, which Eby said will co-ordinate a daily “whole-of-government approach” to combat the economic effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s promised fees on Canadian goods.

Trump has threatened to introduce 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products starting on Saturday, a plan that his press secretary said was “still on the books” during a White House briefing Tuesday.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon will chair the B.C. cabinet committee, which Eby’s office described as a “day-to-day war room” fighting to protect workers and businesses in the province.

“The proposed U.S. tariffs are a direct attack on B.C.‘s families,” Eby said in the statement.

“This threat isn’t going away anytime soon – not while this president is in power,” Eby added. “Every minister has an important role to play in fighting back.”

‘We will not be bullied’

During a news conference on Tuesday, Eby projected that U.S. tariffs, if imposed as promised, could do more economic damage to the province than the economic recession triggered by the 2008 global financial crisis.

“We didn’t ask for this fight, but B.C. will not be bullied,” Kahlon said in the statement from the premier’s office.

“My colleagues and I will work shoulder to shoulder with workers, business and community leaders to meet this moment.”

Eby has vowed retribution on the U.S. if the tariff threat is realized, saying his government will ensure that “every harm that is inflicted on British Columbia families is met and matched with a response to the United States.”

The newly announced committee includes the ministers of forests, energy, finance, jobs, mining, environment, water, agriculture and trade.

Eby’s office says the group will work to ensure the province’s response to the U.S. tariff threat is “fast, tough and fully focused” on protecting residents by strengthening and diversifying the economy in the long term.

Eby said Tuesday that U.S. tariffs are unjustified and would lead to higher prices for American consumers.

“I believe that we can step up that pain, that we can target it to specific Republican districts where there is support for this agenda, and get the attention of folks about how integrated we are,” the premier said.