Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham is currently in Norway for the Offshore Northern Seas oil and gas conference. However, his focus remains on addressing the Canada-U.S. trade conflict back home. Wakeham’s recent statement acknowledged the potential negative impacts of tariffs on businesses, consumers, supply chains, and overall uncertainty in the province. Although Newfoundland and Labrador may face relatively lesser direct consequences, it is not entirely shielded from the effects.
In response to U.S. trade actions, Wakeham commended Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership in implementing retaliatory tariffs. The provincial government stands united with the federal measures to protect economic interests and promote a stable trading relationship with the U.S. Wakeham emphasized the importance of monitoring the trade actions’ impacts in collaboration with key industry partners driving the province’s economy.
The Government of Canada has imposed counter tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods effective from September 8, along with providing $7.5 billion in support for workers and businesses. Wakeham stressed the necessity for ambitious and targeted response programs to safeguard jobs and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders in the province are urging the government to reinstate the premier’s roundtable on tariffs, which was initiated under former premier Andrew Furey. NDP Leader Jim Dinn emphasized the importance of engaging various stakeholders to address the trade war’s local impacts effectively. The provincial Liberals have also called for Wakeham to take proactive steps and bring the roundtable back to address industry and worker concerns.
Small business owners, represented by the Canadian Federation for Independent Business (CFIB), are raising concerns about federal response programs and the criteria for accessing support. CFIB’s director Jonathan Galgay highlighted the need for fair criteria, especially for small and independent businesses, under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. Despite initial concerns, organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador have successfully accessed support through previous programs, with ongoing efforts to finalize details for the new round.
Galgay emphasized the importance of understanding the implications of the new tariffs and countermeasures while appreciating the provincial government’s efforts in engaging stakeholders. Wakeham’s office has been actively communicating with partners to assess potential impacts and is preparing for discussions with stakeholders to address the evolving trade situation.
