Tariff turmoil: How N.L. industries are preparing during uncertain times
Trump now says tariffs could come in April
The threat of U.S. tariffs continues to loom over Canadian industries, with President Donald Trump moving the posts on different dates he says they'll come into effect.
Earlier this week, Trump said they tariffs would roll out as planned for March 4, but now he says there's a new plan for early April.
The original plan was to place a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy. However, it is unclear if this is still the U.S. president's plan.
"It seems to be settling into everyone now that this guy is a maniac and whatever he says one day is not going to be accurate the next day," Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told reporters on Tuesday.
Jessica McCormick, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, likened the delays to Groundhog Day.
"Every week or every couple of weeks we get that kind of new message from President Trump about tariffs," she said.
But Trump's indecision is creating an uneasy feeling in Newfoundland and Labrador, as the seafood, oil and gas, and mineral industries continue to brace.
McCormick said 20,000 jobs in the province would be directly impacted by tariffs.
"The most important thing that we should be focused on right now is preparing for the inevitability of tariffs and making sure we have the right plans in place," she said.
Preparations underway
But the province has been preparing for the last month, including a push to buy local in campaign to encourage residents to purchase items made in the province.
The goal of the campaign is to strengthen internal markets, but industries have also been looking to diversify export markets to the European Union.
During the month-long tariff pause, McCormick has been involved in roundtable discussions with Furey and speaking with federal ministers and the prime minister. She has been promoting the importance of trade diversification, but also increasing the province's own industrial capacity.
She said a stronger employment insurance system and more programs for education or retraining would be beneficial to support workers impacted by tariffs.
McCormick says Trump's tariff threat is presenting an opportunity to reimagine and strengthen the economy in the long term.
"So let's use this opportunity and not lose it," she said.
Furey will be meeting with the Committee on Internal Trade in Toronto later this week, where they will discuss eliminating barriers on provincial trade.
But McCormick says internal trade isn't a final solution. She says making it easier for Canadians to trade goods in Canada can't be at the expense of occupational health and safety standards, environmental standards and labour standards that keep people employed here in the province.
Investment and hiring already slowed
David Haire, vice-president of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, has also been promoting the removal of red tape surrounding inter-provincial trade in the country.
"It's important that no harm comes to Newfoundland and Labrador companies as a result of it," he said.
He said the biggest thing to consider is the safety of products imported and exported and his organization has taken Trump's tariff threats seriously, even with uncertainty on what's going to happen.
Investment has already slowed down due to the uncertainty, and a lot of exporters are trying to move goods into the U.S. before the tariffs kick in, he said.
A CME national survey found that 30 per cent of its members are accelerating shipments to the U.S., 22 per cent of Canadian companies are doing hiring freezes and 3 0 percent are delaying investments.
'Calm, cool, and collected'
Haire said CME will continue to be part of Furey's "Team N.L." to work together, plan and prepare for tariffs.
He said he agrees with Furey's approach to stay "calm, cool and collected," while waiting for tariffs to come into effect.
On Tuesday, CBC News asked Finance Minister Siobhan Coady what would happen next in terms of preparing for potential tariffs.
She said the province has a strong team, and has a plan that they will continue to execute. She said they will continue to meet with business, union and community leaders about opening up new markets and there are plans ready to execute should tariffs be imposed.
"I would say still remain calm, we'll remain strategic and we'll remain focused on making sure we're doing the best thing for Newfoundland and Labrador," said Coady.
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