Saint John’s mayor is deeply concerned about the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The United States imposed a 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian imports effective Tuesday.
Mayor Donna Reardon said the local economy of the Saint John region depends heavily on cross-border trade.
She pointed to a number of local businesses, including J.D. Irving, Irving Oil, Moosehead Brewery and Cooke Aquaculture.
“As one of the most industrialized cities on Canada’s East Coast, we are particularly vulnerable to this disruption,” Reardon said in a statement.
In fact, a recent report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce found Saint John is the most vulnerable Canadian city to tariffs.
The city is home to the Irving Oil refinery, the largest in Canada, with more than 80 per cent of its product exported to the United States.
“These tariffs will have real consequences – from increased costs for essential goods and energy in the U.S., to potential disruptions for local businesses and families,” said Reardon.
But the mayor noted that Saint John is also home to one of the deepest water ports on the entire East Coast, which is ready to help.
“We are uniquely positioned to not just endure but grow in this challenging environment,” Reardon added.
Reardon is calling for a national strategy to open Canadian industries to global markets, remove interprovincial trade barriers, and strengthen our local economies.
She also encouraged residents to support one another, embrace Canadian-made products and “focus on our collective strength.”
