B.C. businesses are watching closely as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 trade dispute with the U.S. heats up, with the latest threat directed at protected dairy, egg and poultry production.

Soon after extending its B次元官网网址渘ational securityB次元官网网址� tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to include Canada, U.S. president Donald Trump took to Twitter to warn of demands for increased access to the Canadian agriculture market.

B次元官网网址淐anada has all sorts of trade barriers on our agricultural products,B次元官网网址� Trump tweeted. B次元官网网址淣ot acceptable!B次元官网网址�

Farmers have not been doing well for 15 years. Mexico, Canada, China and others have treated them unfairly. By the time I finish trade talks, that will change. Big trade barriers against U.S. farmers, and other businesses, will finally be broken. Massive trade deficits no longer!

B次元官网网址� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 government-protected dairy, egg and poultry market has been a trade irritant for the U.S. and other countries for years. Only minimal foreign access to those markets was given up in the recently concluded Canada-European Union trade deal, and the Trans Pacific Partnership discussions that Canada has been involved in.

There is an upside to the trade war that has seen Canada retaliate with tariffs on such items as maple syrup and toilet paper, said Dan Baxter, director of policy development at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. But it is a temporary one that some are calling a B次元官网网址減atriotic effect,B次元官网网址� where consumers start seeking out Canadian products to show support.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a very short-term uptick benefit,B次元官网网址� Baxter said. B次元官网网址淭he overall long-term trend when you get into these kinds of trade wars, and of course the Canadian government using very understandable counter-measures, ultimately that hurts consumers and businesses on both sides of the border.B次元官网网址�

Rio Tinto AlcanB次元官网网址檚 recently modernized smelter at Kitimat is faced with a 10-per-cent tariff on sales to the U.S., which Baxter said is likely a side effect of TrumpB次元官网网址檚 focus on its trade imbalance with China.

Canada has had an integrated aluminum market with the U.S. going back 100 years, not only for manufacturing but as part of its NATO and NORAD defence agreements, and before that its cooperation during World War II, he said.

Trudeau was asked about farm subsidies in an appearance on NBCB次元官网网址檚 Meet the Press program on Sunday, and he acknowledged that Canadian negotiators were B次元官网网址渕oving towards flexibilityB次元官网网址� on milk and other products.

B次元官网网址淚 think they want a better deal on their auto sector from Mexico and I think they want more access on certain agricultural products like dairy in Canada,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said.

Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Tuesday the president is leaning towards negotiating separate deals with Canada and Mexico.

Baxter said Canada has provided some access to its agricultural market in the EU and TPP agreements, but received substantial access to foreign markets in exchange. ItB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渋ronicB次元官网网址� that Trump pulled the U.S. out of the TPP, when it gave the U.S. additional farm products access to Canada that he is concerned about now.