Caught in the middle: Eby talks U.S., China trade
Eby acknowledged China's fentanyl precursor shipments and “buildup of military belligerence.”
British Columbia’s premier said he wants the province to be less reliant on both the United States and China.
But David Eby said Jan. 16 that the simmering trade feud between Canada and the U.S. “is solely to the benefit of China.”
“If we can help deliver that message to the President-elect, to the Republicans, then I think we'll be able to really reinforce how we're actually allies in this challenging global environment that we live in,” Eby told reporters.
The day after the first ministers meeting about Donald Trump’s 25% tariff threat, Eby said B.C. is too dependent on the two trade behemoths that are in intense disagreement with each other and “conducting themselves in ways that are causing concern globally.”
He said B.C.’s strategy is to deepen relationships with South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and India.
Eby noted the dominant U.S. concern about China, related to the importation of precursor chemicals for fentanyl and Xi Jinping’s “buildup of military belligerence.”
“I mean, what better ally is there to the United States in establishing critical mineral chains that are independent of China, than Canada?” Eby said. “What better partner is there to ensure that we're working closely and ensuring the energy is there around artificial intelligence — as well as any other priorities of the United States — than Canada? We're the number one energy exporter to the United States from British Columbia alone. Electricity, petroleum products help fuel the United States. And so it's bizarre to me that we're having this conversation.”
Eby said the Ministry of Finance estimated tariffs would cause a $69 billion loss to B.C.’s economy during Trump’s four-year term, which begins Jan. 20. B.C. would also lose 124,000 jobs.
The report and methodology for the doomsday estimates were not immediately released.
Eby and the other premiers are traveling to Washington, D.C. on Feb. 12 to lobby U.S. lawmakers.