B.C. Premier David Eby said Friday (Jan. 31) that B.C. is prepared for tariffs set to come into effect Feb.1, based on the latest available information coming from the White House. 

"I can assure we are ready for the fight B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ we will not roll over," he said. "We are working closely with the business community, with workers, with community, with First Nations leaders."

Eby's comments come after a meeting of the provincial task force responding to the pending tariffs and after Trump Friday confirmed tariffs will start Feb. 1.

Details about the exact nature of the tariffs remain fluid. According to footage provided from American wire services, U.S. President Donald Trump plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico Feb. 1 on top of already existing tariffs. The U.S. also plans to impose 10 per tariffs on Canadian oil and gas with Feb. 18 said to be the starting date. Trump also promised to impose tariffs on steel, aluminium and copper among other goods. 

Eby said government is preparing for "multiple scenarios" as the United States prepares to impose tariffs.  He added "preparing for the worst means preparing retaliatory tariffs to ensure that every inch that the President hopes to get from imposing tariffs on Canada comes at additional and significant cost to Americans, particularly in states, where (voters) have elected officials that are supporting this agenda against a country" that has been a friend and ally for many years. 

"We are good partners with the United States, but if the president decides to start this fight, we will have to hit back...so we are prepared for that." 

Trump said the tariffs are not a negotiating tool but rather a response to Canada failing to prevent fentanyl from entering the United States and its large trade surplus with the United States.  "We are not looking for a concession -- we will see what happens," Trump said.

Eby said it is "regrettable" that Trump would be saying that, because he has "also said things that are completely at odds with that."

Eby added that he is supporting efforts by the federal government to avoid the tariffs. "He (Trump) is concerned about border, he is concerned about fentanyl," Eby said. "These are understandable things that we can work together to address. It does not just justify these tariffs and I think that we can come to agreements with the United States on things that are priorities of the president."

But if these and other items such as military spending can be addressed, the tariffs will hurt families on "both sides of the border for no apparent reason." 

Trump said that tariffs "don't cause inflation, they cause success." He acknowledged that there could be "some temporary, short-term disruption" but predicted "that people will understand." 

More to come.