US Tariff Threats

As a nation, we have become too dependent on our existing trade relationship with the United States, and it has exposed how vulnerable our economy and businesses across our communities, provinces and the country are to market volatility. Irrespective of US actions, BIABC is urging the provincial government to use this window of opportunity to advance changes that will strengthen our resiliency and put us in a better position to withstand outside forces.

As a starting point, BIABC is urging the province to:

• Create a stronger domestic marketplace by establishing local sourcing opportunities and expand the Buy BC Program to support local businesses, producers, and suppliers.
• Work with their provincial counterparts to remove interprovincial trade barriers, support businesses in identifying both domestic and international market opportunities - and create avenues for business to access capital so they can potentially expand and/or tap into market opportunities, within Canada and internationally. 

On a broader level, BIABC is calling for action to:

• Address the cost of doing business in a meaningful way to ensure there is a greater chance of business viability in the face of external pressures. This includes addressing the financial burden of the mandatory five-day sick leave policy which not only requires a business owner to pay the employee, but also the costs associated with backfilling that position.
• Place a moratorium on new business-related taxes or policies and address red tape reduction and red tape redundancies that are costly and time consuming for business owners and operators.

Shop Local

Defining Shop Local - the current wave of Canadian nationalism is something many BIAs are getting behind. BIABC encourages consumers to support merchants in their own communities, and where possible, buy BC and Canadian made products.

However, there are certain unintended consequences that we all need to be cognizant of. Examples include:

• A local business may be a US franchise – but otherwise, may be locally owned, pay local taxes, employ local people, and source products locally.

• A local business may have inventory that is US grown or developed - or likewise, in the process of being imported that will expire / go to waste if not purchased. In that circumstance, it’s the local business that will be impacted.

• Likewise, a local business may be locked into a distribution agreement with a US provider that can’t be terminated overnight – even if they wanted to.

BIABC encourages consumers to speak with business owners, be sympathetic to their specific circumstances and not rush to judgement. Our desire is to support local businesses, not harm them and by extension, our local economies.

Resources

BIABC is proud to partner with LOCO BC to provide resources to support the Shop Local movement.

Visit LOCOC BC's Resources Page to find what is available for the Shop Local movement.

Print-ready materials are available here.