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Surrey mayor aims to protect local economy from Trump tariffs

Brenda Locke says Surrey does $2.8 billion in cross-border commerce each year
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Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and Windsor, Ontario Mayor Drew Dilkens at City Hall presser on Jan. 30.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke joined a new Border Mayors Alliance in an effort to safeguard Surrey's economic interests and well-being of local businesses against U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods crossing the border that took effect Tuesday.

She said that's her "top priority" and she's "fully committed" to protecting the city's prosperity. Surrey is Canada's only city with two land border crossings.

"According to our most recent data," Locke said, "over 20 per cent of Surrey businesses have direct trade ties with the United States, representing roughly $2.8 billion in cross-border commerce each year.

"We could see hundreds of local jobs, particularly in manufacturing and the value-added sectors placed at risk along with a serious blow to our emerging export-focused businesses. I'm concerned. Our truckers for sure are going to feel the impact, not in a week or more, it will be immediate."

Locke said she's "actively engaging" with federal and provincial government representatives as well as her fellow mayors "to ensure that Surrey's voice is heard and that we remain at the table for all meaningful discussions on the issue.

"We recognize the significant repercussions such tariffs could have on our businesses, supply chains and ultimately depend on them," she said. "We are acutely aware of the ramifications of such tariffs and what they will have not only on businesses and supply chain and families; families who rely on jobs for their livelihood, families who rely on their jobs for everything they do in their daily lives."

Comprised of mayors from more than 20 Canadian cities and towns situated along the border, the alliance was recently formed to address the tariffs.  She noted that nearly $2 billion in goods crosses the Canadian/U.S. border each day, "supporting millions of jobs on both sides of that border."

"Given that over 70 per cent of Canada's total exports flow into the United States these figures underscore the critical importance of maintaining open and fair trade channels. Right here in Surrey, the potential impact is equally significant," she said, "especially in key sectors" like agriculture, manufacturing and technology.

During a presser at City Hall on Jan. 30, with Windsor, Ontario Mayor Drew Dilkens, Locke said there will have to be "some supports" for businesses, "there's no doubt about that."

Dilkens said the aim of the alliance is to "activate" with "our colleagues across the border, making sure we're ending our voice to the conversation, activating all the resources in Canada but in the U.S. as well that stand to be negatively impacted by the decision of the U.S. president."

"Make no doubt the impact, even as this situation evolves, could be quite staggering on our national economy and certainly our local economies," Dilkens said. "And that's why Canadian mayors of cities and towns along the Canada/U.S border have united as the Border Mayors Alliance. We aim to safeguard our communities and offer a municipal perspective within our national discussion."

According to a backgrounder provided by the City of Surrey, there are 113 importing and exporting businesses operating in Surrey as well as 900 transportation and warehousing companies that stand to be adversely affected by the tariffs. Surrey's manufacturing sector – comprised of roughly 960 businesses – employs more than 23,500 workers.

 

 

 

 



About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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