By James Peters

Chamber pres says new trade deal doesn’t address steel and aluminum tariffs crucial to local industry

Oct 1, 2018 | 2:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — The president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce says the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement fell short on addressing the issue that matters most to local business: U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs.

Joshua Knaak says there are positives from the deal – including the existence of the deal itself.

“The fact that there is a deal in place is good because one ofthe biggest killers for the business community is uncertainty,” said Knaak. “The potential of a trade war – how bad can it be? It was frightening in many ways.”

Knaak added gains were made for the Canadian auto manufacturing sector, but he says local businesses want to see steel and aluminum tariffs addressed.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed the tariffs on May 31, 2018, saying Canada had been treating the U.S. poorly.

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sorry - did you say, 'Take your old guns to the post office?'

4h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Police confirm diversion of government-supplied drugs

Apr 25, 2024

“The Canadian government is hoping that by the time this is signed that those will be dealt with,” said Knaak, “but it feels like we may have just given up some leverage by coming to an agreement on all other factors and then hoping that good will prevails and they get rid of those tariffs.”

“On a number of different industries, that probably has the most impact on a local level. We’d like to see that dealt with.”

Among the smaller provisions in the new agreement, B.C. grocery stores will have to stock American wine alongside B.C. wine.

Knaak doesn’t see that as a major concern.

“I think the liquor laws, quite frankly, in British Columbia, and many other provinces, are antiquated anyway. Do I think it’s a major issue? I think the consumer should have choice. I’m not too worried about it, because I’ll take B.C. wine over American wine any day, personally.”