Discussions are ongoing around the possibility of U.S. tariffs going into place at the beginning of the month and how they could impact businesses in southern Alberta.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen says the possibility of Donald Trump implementing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods was a large topic of discussion at the last Economic Development Lethbridge meeting. He says how it could impact local businesses was a key topic of concern, citing a report published in early February from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce where Lethbridge was rated 10th out of 30 cities across the country who would be most impacted by the tariffs.
“Our [economy] is agriculturally based and so it’s a little bit different but that’s a that’ll be a huge hit to us being very close to the border,” Hyggen says. “There’s a group that’s been put together with Economic Development Lethbridge [and] other regional partners to get together on you know what the response is to this if these tariffs do come forward so we need to be prepared for that.”
Hyggen adds in the coming weeks and days it will be important to continue these conversations.
“We need we need to work together and I mean it’s it’s much easier working together than trying to do your own thing and so we’re all on that same page.”
Hyggen says several agriculture producers live in the city but farm out in the county, which he says is an example of why working with the county and other community officials is an important part of moving forward with one voice.
