Lethbridge Chamber urges trade resilience after new 50% U.S. tariffs on $28B in goods

The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce is calling for a coordinated national response after the United States imposed new 50 per cent tariffs on roughly $28 billion in selected Canadian goods. The measure is not a blanket tariff, and energy and potash remain excluded, putting Alberta in a different position than provinces like Ontario and Quebec, which face heavier exposure through automotive, steel and aluminum sectors.

Chamber officials say Southern Alberta's economy is still vulnerable because of deep ties across agriculture, agri-food processing, manufacturing, transportation, construction and energy. Businesses that don't export directly to the U.S. may rely on American equipment and inputs or supply other Canadian firms that do sell into the U.S. market, meaning trade disruptions can ripple through local supply chains.

Chamber President and CEO Cyndi Crane said trade uncertainty affects decisions on hiring, investment and expansion even for companies without direct export ties. She noted Alberta remains one of Canada's most trade-dependent provinces, with the U.S. accounting for the bulk of its international merchandise exports, and cautioned that the energy sector's current exemption doesn't insulate the province from broader consequences of the dispute.

The Chamber is also pushing for faster removal of interprovincial trade barriers, citing its policy work on regulatory alignment, labour mobility and stronger transportation corridors between provinces. Crane argued that while Canada cannot control U.S. trade decisions, it can control barriers to trade among its own provinces, and said strengthening domestic trade would make the country more resilient amid ongoing international uncertainty.