Trade war will ‘hurt us both,’ Canadian delegation tells American municipal leaders

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood recently joined a delegation from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National League of Cities conference. During the conference, Mood and her colleagues emphasized to their American counterparts the negative impacts of the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada.

In an interview following the conference, Mood expressed her concern that the trade war would ultimately lead to increased costs for citizens on both sides of the border. She noted that many American mayors were unaware of the tariffs that had been imposed and the potential consequences of these actions. As a result, Mood and her fellow delegates made it a priority to raise awareness among local politicians in the hopes that they would advocate for change.

The delegation discussed the implications of the trade war on various sectors, including the increase in prices for new homes and cars for both Canadian and American consumers. They also highlighted the impact on American farmers who rely on Canadian potash for fertilizer, as well as cities like Los Angeles that require Canadian lumber for rebuilding efforts after natural disasters.

Despite receiving apologies from their American counterparts, Mood emphasized the importance of addressing the harmful effects of the trade war. She noted that U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance did not acknowledge how tariffs would lead to construction cost increases for housing projects, a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

In addition to meeting with various municipal leaders, including the Democratic Mayors Association and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, the delegation also sought to meet with the Republican Mayors Association. However, they were not able to secure a meeting with the group, highlighting the challenges of navigating political dynamics at different levels of government.

The trade war escalated further with President Donald Trump imposing a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting the Canadian government to retaliate with tariffs on nearly $30 billion worth of American goods. As the trade tensions continue to unfold, it is clear that collaboration and communication between the two countries will be crucial in finding a resolution to the dispute.