Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus discussing alliance with New York municipalities amid tariff threat

Canadian and U.S. flags fly atop the Peace Arch monument at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, November 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck (DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) is hoping to form an alliance with municipal leaders in New York State, amid U.S. president Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian trade.

At his inauguration Monday, it was reported Trump will not impose tariffs on his first day in office, but leaders say they are not sitting still yet.

In support of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the EOWC sent letters to the New York State Association of Counties and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to form an alliance against the tariffs.

“It’s up to us to reach out to our neighbours to the south and get their support,” said EOWC chair Bonnie Clark. “Because these tariffs, it’s a two-way street here. It’s going to hurt both of us here in Ontario and Canada, but also our neighbouring states because they are our primary trade partners.”

The EOWC represents 13 jurisdictions and 103 municipalities in eastern Ontario.

Clark says the region’s annual demand is $132.5 billion through trade with the U.S.

The EOWC says they are encouraged by discussions with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, with a meeting scheduled Monday afternoon.

“We are starting those opening conversations and certainly both putting out plans on how we can be effective and certainly not have this come into place and affect our economies,” Clark said.

More details to come.