An industry association representing more than 300 manufacturers in Manitoba’s agri-food sector says it’s concerned about escalating protectionist rhetoric as Canada’s first ministers weigh how to hit back against U.S. threats.On Wednesday, Justin Trudeau and 12 of the country’s premiers including Manitoba’s Wab Kinew, signed a communique in which they pledged to do all they can to stop Donald Trump from imposing punitive tariffs on Canadian goods.The U.S.-president elect has vowed to slap a 25-per-cent levy on the imports.Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after the meeting Wednesday all options should be on the table as the country looks to retaliate. Alberta’s Danielle Smith brought up the idea of banning the province’s oil exports to the United States, though she didn’t sign the final communique.ADVERTISEMENTKinew said the meeting showed the leaders have forged a united front.”I hope that there is Canadian pride in the fact that you can have Liberals and Conservatives and New Democrats and non-partisan leaders coming together,” he said.”I hope that that sense of pride … spills out in the broader society so that when you go to the store, that Canadian pride leads you to buy that made-in-Canada product. That when you make your big decisions, that you choose to make investments here.”Ahead of the summit, Kinew had called for a long-term economic strategy that puts “Team Canada” first and makes the country “one that builds things again.”But the potential of another trade war with the U.S. has some Manitobans on edge.Michael Mikulak, head of Food & Beverage Manitoba, said the association’s members would be “devastated” if Trump carries on with his threat.Michael Mikulak, head of Food & Beverage Manitoba, said the association’s members would be ‘devastated’ if Trump carries out his threat. (Felisha Adam/CBC)ADVERTISEMENTMichael Mikulak, CEO of Food & Beverage Manitoba, said the association’s members would be “devastated” if Trump makes good on his threat.He added that having both countries turn inward is dangerous.”I think we need leaders that have the vision and are able to communicate the value of … internationalism, whether that’s in trade, whether it’s culture, diversity,” Mikulak said.”We need strong international relations, and a lot of those are underpinned by trade.”Forty-six per cent of Manitoba’s total agri-food exports went to the U.S. in 2023, according to analysis from the province. That amounts to $4.53 billion in goods.Mikulak said most companies in the sector don’t even have a 25 per cent profit margin, and that they wouldn’t have any other choice but to pass costs down to the consumer on both sides of the border.ADVERTISEMENTHe said even businesses that don’t export to America will be impacted by disruptions in the supply chain.’Nobody wins in a tariff war’Shiu-Yik Au, an associate professor of finance at the University of Manitoba, said the uncertainty alone is having an effect on the province’s bus
Gio. Gen 16th, 2025
