By Kendall Robertson

How Steel And Aluminium Tariffs Could Affect Northern BC

Mar 5, 2018 | 3:30 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- Donald Trump is threatening a tariff on steel and aluminium imports, and Canada isn’t off the hook. 16% of steel imports to the States come from Canada, which is more than any other country. A tariff of up to 25% could take a toll on the steel industry in the country. Prince George is a hub for industry in Northern BC, with several mines nearby and the Rio Tinto aluminum smelter in Kitimat.  If exports take a hit, our communities may be impacted. “The closest large manufacturer would be Rio Tinto, which is something BC and Prince George have a big impact on providing both resources and materials, so we’ll have to see how they fare out of this,” said KPMG partner, Stanley Mitchell. If Trump goes ahead with the tariff, Mitchell predicts consumers would notice higher prices on certain items.  “Automobiles, aluminium cans, Hershey kisses have aluminium foil on it, electronics have steel and aluminium products in it.”

Although the tariff isn’t written in stone yet, experts suggest it may be a good time to explore trade options in other markets. “China is a good example, Prince George businesses have made big inroads in accessing that market and making sure their products are going there,” said the city’s Economic Development manager, Melissa Barcellos. The opportunity for Northern BC to get products on the international market is growing, after the European Trade Forum this afternoon, and Prince George’s recent designation as a foreign trade zone.