A new permanent Manitoba trade office in Washington, D.C. is being welcomed as a timely move to protect local businesses and strengthen the province’s cross-border relationships.
Stefanie Dunn, executive director of the Portage la Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce, says the decision is a direct response to ongoing concerns about trade, tariffs and competition.
“This is about having boots right on the ground there to build and continue strengthening cross-border economic relationships and to make sure that Manitoba is at the table for these important conversations about trade,” says Dunn.
Response to industry pressure
The chamber has been calling on the province to take bolder steps in trade outreach. Dunn notes that other provinces already operate similar offices overseas and in the U.S., so this move brings Manitoba in line with broader economic strategies.
“We’ve been asking the province to continue to step up,” Dunn adds. “We think this is a really good first step to continue to bring Manitoba’s economic offerings to the table.”
She says industries in the Portage region have much at stake, particularly those tied to equipment and construction.
“We know that some of our ag equipment suppliers, our automotive dealers and some of our construction suppliers as well, our lumberyards… this is a concern for them.”
Tariffs and competitiveness top of mind
While tariff discussions often shift quickly, their impact is real for industries dealing with steel and machinery. Dunn says the ripple effects of those changes are already visible in the local market.
“We’re already seeing some of the marketing promotions like free tariff pricing, and we want to make sure that they can remain competitive with our neighbouring communities,” she says.
Construction sector feeling the pinch
“This was a real concern for them,” Dunn notes. “If the price of equipment starts to increase, then the cost of supplies also starts to increase, and then they’re going to have to start quoting much, much higher to offset those costs.”
Direct representation matters
For companies dealing with tight margins and shifting rules, Dunn says it’s essential for Manitoba to have a direct voice.
“It at least means that we can start to be at the table for those conversations,” she says. “It means that we can say, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on, hang on, this doesn’t apply to us. This doesn’t work for us.’”
The chamber sees this as a tangible win in its ongoing advocacy work. Dunn continues to hold conversations with members to monitor the impact and says more direct engagement like this will benefit Manitoba businesses in the long run.