(Bloomberg) — British Columbia, Canada’s third-most populous province, directed its agencies and state corporations to ditch U.S. suppliers, extending its retaliation in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats.
The U.S. administration’s trade policy includes tariffs on automobiles, aluminum and other key exports from Canada. Those import taxes have effectively “ripped up” the trade agreement signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada during Trump’s first term, B.C. Premier David Eby said.
Since Trump has abrogated the trade accord, Eby said, “obviously it creates the opportunity for us to prefer B.C. and Canadian products without fear of violating the agreement that he has already trampled under his feet,” Eby said at a news conference Thursday.
The provincial government directed ministries, health authorities and core state corporations to review all contracts with U.S. companies, exclude those firms if possible, cancel subscriptions to U.S. publications and nonessential software, avoid nonessential U.S. travel, pause participation in U.S. associations, and develop strategies to reduce dependence on U.S. companies.
Eby said the shift will not incur “dramatic additional costs” and acknowledged it will be difficult to find alternatives for embedded tech providers like Amazon and Microsoft.
Trump has ordered an investigation into U.S. imports of lumber, and may try to impose new tariffs on those — which would slam a major B.C. industry already subject to growing U.S. duties.
The provincial government has a budget that forecasts spending of $95 billion Canadian dollars ($68 billion) during the current fiscal year.
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