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Businesses are buckling down as a proposed date of February 1st has been set for 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods by the US.
The move is predicted to have big effects on Canadian businesses, especially those who rely on business from their southern neighbours.
Estevan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Merissa Scarlett says we'll see a flurry of activity in the coming week as a response to that.
"As the whole province actually does a lot of exporting to the United States, the one big thing we're going to notice is before anything comes in, we'll probably see a surge in exports because people trying to get in before the official date when it happens. But then usually what happens with a tariff like this is we're going to see costs increase and then we'll also just see a decrease in trade."
The southeast is especially impacted as Scarlett says that some of our major industries could see big hits.
"From what I've been learning, we're going to have a big impact on oil and gas. A lot of the exporting that way. Anything ag, so exporting canola any of that so they'll be impacted, equipment and machinery. So a lot of our ag equipment and our dealers will send equipment South of the border as well. So parts and all that sort of stuff."
A big way to counter those tariffs would be to expand Canadian trade, with Scarlett hoping that provinces can look at trade between them and how to streamline that.
"One really interesting fact that I've learned is that promoting interprovincial trade. So in Canada, there's still a lot of red tape about trading within the provinces, and the Canadian Chamber and the Saskatchewan Chamber have found that if we're really reducing some of that red tape and promoting trade within Canada will actually help mitigate some of the costs of the tariffs."
"Another option that I think Saskatchewan has done well in the provincial government has promoted is looking to diversify our trading partners. So we have the United States. But who else is looking for our products around the world, especially with our food, fuel, fertilizer? We have a lot to offer, so promoting other places that need those products would be a good avenue to continue exploring."
Scarlett says that finding new ways to keep the connection to American business partners is important.
"We have a Saskatchewan trade and export partnership, so they've actually promoted, If you do trade, speaking to your American partners and having messages prepared to talk about the impacts, what it's going to look like, and if you don't have any idea where to start, what's really nice is on their website, sasktrade.com, you can actually go and find some of these messages so that you can be prepared to have that conversation."
Scarlett says that people can reach out with any specific concerns and if they're looking for assistance by calling 306-637-2151 or emailing executivedirector@estevanchamber.ca.