Canada is still dealing with US tariffs, as a new round has placed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imported from all countries into the US.
The move is expected to disrupt steel industries in Saskatchewan. It would compound with the general 25 percent tariff, which has been delayed until the end of the month.
With the change in trade policy, the Executive Director of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, Merissa Scarlett, says that this is another blow to free trade.
"It's not good, I mean this continues on and this is where we're in this uncertainty with our tariffs and trade. Now we've been hit with this and there are rumours now that that will be a steel tariff and that 25 per cent plus whatever else may come on March 1st. So it's it's really not a good sign."
Even though the Southeast isn't heavily involved in the steel industry Scarlett says that we'd still see some pain from this policy.
"Basically the US is 99 per cent of Canada's imported steel. Any steel we make in Canada goes mostly to the US and I mean it could drive costs up. So in the sense that maybe companies don't make as much steel, so we're having to source it from the United States."
"Basically as the US imports it, the cost is increased. So then basically the cost will be increased for Canadians to buy it back again as a product. So there are multiple impacts in those manners, but they're probably will be just in a cost on steel and it really could slow down steel production in Canada leading to less production and receiving of goods."
This latest round of tariffs has got businesses feeling worried with Scarlett saying they're already seeing a slowdown.
"Well, I think for the pause, there's like some relief, but we're all sitting in uncertainty. So some businesses, what I've heard is that people aren't buying as much, they're waiting to see what's going to happen, so it's slowed down some buying. There is worry about layoffs or things like that and just kind of just said uncertainty you just don't know and that feeling of lack of control because a lot of this is above our levels in our area and it can be very hard and stressful on businesses."
Scarlett says that businesses can keep track of the issue by heading to their website.
"There's a lot of great resources out there. On our Estevan chamber website, I've compiled resources into the news releases. There's a tariff update there if you have American customers, you're looking for talking points, head there."
"There may be some government relief for tariffs coming, and obviously we're still keeping our ear to the ground and really I'm working with our provincial chamber to really push the importance of not having tariffs and being good trading partners."