Think Twice about Traveling to the US, Eby Says

Trump threatening 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods Feb 1

With Donald Trump busy with a flurry of activity since he was sworn in, the Premier of British Columbia is terrified about the US President's threat of 25 percent tariffs that may come as early as February 1.

If it does go ahead, it could be disastrous not only for BC, but the whole of Canada economically and provincial and federal leaders are all scrambling to figure out a response that would get Trump to back down.

Premier David Eby is calling on British Columbians to think twice about going across the border for holidays.

Eby says people should rethink travel to the US

"We should really be thinking carefully about spending our money in that country," he said. "We will not spend money in a country that wants to do economic harm to Canadians."

Last weekend a relative did an overnight trip to Seattle, Washington, and said there was hardly any waits at the border -- probably the weak Canadian dollar has made people think twice about going to the US, not necessarily the impending Trump administration.

Others have suggested Canadian consumers should stop shopping at places like Walmart, Costco, and Amazon and buy local instead.

Meanwhile provincial and federal officials haven't diversified economies enough to do business with other countries -- the US is too tempting a market to resist with 10 times the population and its proximity to Canada.

But if Trump is going to continue punishing Canada on things like illegal immigration and fentanyl coming into the US, Canada will be forced to do business elsewhere, and being caught flat-footed isn't exactly a good position to be in.