Trump's tariff threats prompt City of Surrey to axe $740K contract with US company
The City of Surrey announced it’s scrapping a proposed contract with a US company amid President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
The $740,000 contract was for the manufacturing and delivery of eight mobile towable bleachers primarily sourced from an American company, stated the city in a press release.
Mayor Brenda Locke noted the decision was made “in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding US tariffs.”
“Given the potentially devastating effects of these looming tariffs, I have decided to reevaluate our sourcing options for critical infrastructure improvements,” stated Locke.
“This challenging situation underscores the need to prioritize Canadian jobs, bolster local businesses, and ensure the economic stability of our communities.”
The mayor added that currently, nearly all (99%) of the City of Surrey’s procurement has been with Canadian companies since 2020, and only 0.58% has been with US suppliers.
However, Locke said the city “can and must do more,” adding that Surrey will champion Canadian interests.
Surrey isn’t the only city taking action against the US. Earlier this week, New Westminster City Council agreed to restrict city staff’s non-essential travel to the US.
Several other cities in the region, such as Burnaby and Vancouver, have also taken action in response to the tariff threats.
On Wednesday, BC Premier David Eby and his fellow Canadian premiers were in Washington, DC, to address the tariffs and the economic impacts on Canada. The group met with US lawmakers and Trump advisors.
The BC premier acknowledged that the overall discussions were “positive” with both Democrat and Republican representatives.
“The common theme among all the meetings is that the elected representatives from all parties understand the importance of the relationship between the United States and Canada,” said Eby, speaking to reporters.
On Monday, Trump signed orders imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, which are planned to come into effect on March 12.
Currently, Trump’s proposal to charge 25% on most Canadian goods imported into the US (10% on energy) is on pause following a February 3 phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which temporarily halted the measures for 30 days.