WHITEHORSE, YUKON — The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PWNER) is sounding the alarm on unilateral steel and aluminum tariffs between the U.S. and Canada.
The PWNER Foundation is a statutory public/private nonprofit created in 1991 by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
“When markets are open, and goods are transported freely across borders, the results are economic growth, new businesses and more and better job opportunities for individuals,” said PWNER president Larry Doke, MLA Saskatchewan, at the PNWER Economic Leadership Forum in Whitehorse, Yukon this month.
Oregon Sen. Arnie Roblan, past president of PNWER, echoed the comments, adding that in the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. and Canada are stronger by working closely together.
“Our relationships are intact because of the ongoing partnerships in every major sector of our economy, and in state, provincial, territorial, local, and tribal governments,” said Roblan in a release. “The U.S. should exempt Canada from any steel and aluminum tariffs, which are causing significant disruption to the largest trading relationship in the world.”
According to PWNER, the U.S. and Canada have the largest trading relationship in the world, and in the Pacific Northwest, residents benefit from the two-way trade of over $630 billion annually, of which about $29 billion is in the Pacific Northwest.
Data from the CD Howe Institute anticipates the tariffs may cost the both countries over US$11 billion combined and could causes the loss of over 6,000 jobs.
According to PWNER, Canadian steel and aluminum products are used as vital inputs in the Canada-U.S. manufacturing supply chains and tariffs on these critical inputs are not only causing consumer product costs to rise, but also making North American products unable to compete in international markets.
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