St. John’s, N.L. (February 2, 2025) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, has released the following statement in response to the United States Tariffs placed on Canadian goods:
“President Trump’s decision to follow through on his 25 per cent tariff threat on Canadian goods is extremely disappointing and completely unjustified. It’s nothing short of a brutal economic assault on our country and our province.
At the heart of this crisis are the hardworking men and women of our country and province. These tariffs put their jobs and livelihoods at risk, making it harder for families to stay afloat at a time when many are already struggling. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and our local industries are my main concern. Our fishery, mining, oil and gas, and lumber sectors will be hit hard. The fallout won’t stop there — indirect industries will also feel the strain.
There are no winners in a trade war. But we must stay strong and united in our response and support the Team Canada approach. Most importantly, we need a robust plan to protect and support our province’s industries and workers. And we need that plan now.
I urge Premier Furey to let the people know the full details of any initiatives the province is working on in response to this impending economic crisis besides the ‘buy local’ campaign. Other provinces have outlined concrete steps they are taking. Premier Furey needs to immediately do the same. Enough time has passed. And we must immediately start with the fishery. We need an urgent plan, especially with the crab season only weeks away.
Market diversification initiatives must be a priority in addressing this crisis. We need to help local industries diversify their markets and become less dependent on the U.S. Government must pull out all the stops to find trading relationships elsewhere. A greater focus should have been placed on economic diversification in the past. Inaction has left us more vulnerable.
We should also immediately put a provincial procurement barrier on American companies. We must cancel existing contracts where possible and limit opportunities for American companies to bid on future contracts, starting with all government departments and crown corporations.
The days and weeks ahead will be anxious for many, but Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are strong and resilient. Let’s stick together and support each other. It’s important to put our industries, workers, families and communities ahead of politics. We’ve faced tough times before. Together, we’ll get through this stronger than ever.”
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