B.C. Premier Urges Ottawa to Rethink U.S. Fighter Jet Purchase and Coal Shipments as Trade War Escalates

Sarah Desjardins

8/26/20262 min read

British Columbia Premier David Eby is calling on the federal government to consider measures beyond retaliatory tariffs as Canada’s trade dispute with the United States intensifies.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, including some pulp and paper products, appliances and dairy products.

Ottawa has responded by announcing retaliatory tariffs scheduled to take effect Sept. 8.

Speaking at a news conference in Vancouver on Tuesday, Eby said he supports the federal government’s dollar-for-dollar tariff response but believes additional pressure should be considered given British Columbia’s exposure to the new U.S. trade measures.

Eby Questions U.S. Fighter Jet Purchases

Among the options raised by Eby is reconsidering Canada’s planned purchase of U.S.-made fighter jets, a procurement potentially worth billions of dollars.

He urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to examine whether continuing major purchases from American suppliers makes sense while Canadian industries face steep U.S. tariffs.

Eby also pointed to American thermal coal being exported through a port facility in Metro Vancouver.

He argued Ottawa should consider accelerating the phase-out of those shipments.

“The reason it goes out of [the port] is because the Americans can't get it out of any of their own ports, they won't ship it themselves,” Eby said.

Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad had previously proposed placing a levy on U.S. thermal coal shipments as a way to pressure Washington over tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.

“I'll put those ideas forward to the prime minister,” Eby said.

“But what won't change is that we are committed to working in lockstep with the federal government as part of a national strategy to be able to respond to this unjustified attack on our country and on our province.”

Premier Urges Consumers to Buy Canadian

Eby also called on British Columbians and Canadians to support domestic businesses as the trade dispute continues.

He said becoming “our own best customer” could help Canadian companies and workers withstand the economic impact of U.S. tariffs.

“If you have a choice, please don't travel to the United States. Choose another place to do your tourism. If you can choose a Canadian product instead of an American one, please choose it,” Eby said.

The federal government says its counter-tariffs will target the same categories of goods affected by U.S. Section 338 and Section 232 tariffs.

More than 700 American products are included in Canada’s retaliatory tariff measures.

Worker and Business Supports Under Scrutiny

Eby described federal support announced for Canadian workers as a “good start,” but said the details of how those measures are implemented will be important.

He highlighted employment insurance supports and access to loans for small- and medium-sized businesses as areas that could prove critical if companies begin experiencing significant financial pressure from the tariffs.

B.C. Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore also described the support measures announced by provincial and federal governments as a solid start.

However, she said financial assistance provided to businesses should come with conditions aimed at protecting workers.

“Keeping people on the job has to be the overriding priority for any business support the government provides,” Skidmore said.

With the new U.S. tariffs now in place and Canadian countermeasures approaching, Eby said B.C. intends to continue coordinating its response with Ottawa as the trade dispute develops.

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