Shop local if Trump tariffs come into effect, Ottawa Board of Trade says

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The Ottawa Board of Trade has a message for Ottawa consumers who want to protest the “unjustified” and “unreasonable” tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump could impose in as soon as 30 days: Shop local.

The tariffs had been expected to come into effect on Tuesday, but after Trump held talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, it was announced that the tariffs had been paused for at least a 30-day period.

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In a statement issued Sunday, the Ottawa Board of Trade said it stands with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in decrying the Trump tariffs and encouraging Canadians to support local businesses.

“Together, we will define our future by building economic resilience through diversifying trade partnerships, removing internal trade barriers, streamlining processes, accelerating project development, embracing new technologies and modernizing policies that impact economic growth,” the Ottawa statement reads.  

“This is a wakeup call for everyone,” Ottawa Board of Trade president and CEO Sueling Ching said in an interview on the weekend. “It’s a reminder that things don’t just tick along if you don’t take care of them. We actually have a lot of influence in how we spend our money and who we choose to put in power.” 

In addition to supporting local products and services, the Ottawa statement calls on residents to share the “innovation, diversity and determination” of local businesses, spread the truth about the tariffs being detrimental to businesses and workers on both sides of the border, and not to be shy about declaring yourself a proud Canadian. 

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Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also weighed in on the tariffs Sunday, echoing the board of trade’s message.

“I will work with councillors on a motion for Finance Committee on Tuesday to ensure our buying decisions at the City of Ottawa prioritize Canadian products and services over American counterparts,” he wrote in a social media post before the pause was announced Monday. “I will convene a meeting of the leaders of Ottawa’s major business and economic development organizations to develop an action plan to support and promote local businesses.”

Sutcliffe said he would meet with Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette this week to discuss how the cities “can work together to ensure the economic success of our entire region, including asking the other levels of government to remove interprovincial trade barriers.”

Meanwhile, the buy-Canadian movement has surged in recent days, with social media users sharing lists of made-in-Canada products. The premier of British Columbia had already pulled American liquor products off the shelves in that province; Ontario had said it would do the same starting Tuesday.

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One Ottawa business owner said she expects her sales to the United States to be affected if the tariffs come into effect, but she’s more worried about the longer-term impact on Canada’s consumer spending if people are paying higher prices for staples like fruit and vegetables, which will be among the products subject to retaliatory tariffs announced Saturday by Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. 

Sandra Harvey is the president and owner of Chilly Dogs, a 25-year-old company that makes coats for dogs in a facility near St. Laurent Boulevard. The nylon-and-fleece garments are available for sale in 15 countries, with the U.S. being Chilly Dogs’ second-best market. 

“The tariffs are a fairly large external issue that we don’t have a lot of control over so we’re just going to have to continue to be as creative as we can,” Harvey said in an interview. 

“But the major part of our business is the Canadian side, so the longer-term concern is the impact to the Canadian consumer’s overall buying power. If they’re struggling to put food on the table and pay for shelter, then there’s less disposable income for consumer goods, and that will certainly impact our business.”

Bottom line? Harvey agrees with the Ottawa Board of Trade’s message to shop local.

“We need to encourage Canadians not to be complacent and make an effort to spend their hard-earned money with Canadian-owned, independent businesses whenever possible,” she said. “Our communities are healthier and happier with them, rather than just the Amazons of the world.”

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

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