Calgary would be second-hardest-hit Canadian city by U.S. tariffs: report

Research shows Calgary would be among the hardest-hit Canadian cities if multiple tariffs threatened by Donald Trump proceed.

New research from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce shows Calgary is one of the most vulnerable cities in Canada to potential U.S. tariffs.

Calgary trails only Saint John, N.B., to be the hardest hit should tariffs be imposed on Canadian goods next month, the report says.

“President Donald Trump’s tariffs are going to have significant consequences for the global economy, but they’re also going to have a disproportionate impact on various Canadian cities,” said Pascal Chan, vice-president of strategic policy and supply chains with the Canadian Chamber.

“This (research) is getting to an even more local level to help further inform our Team Canada response as we start to rally behind those affected areas and industries with these tariffs coming into play.”

The Chamber’s data shows just over 96 per cent—about $119 million—of Calgary’s exports are to the United States.

Most of that is the export of oil and natural gas, but the report points out Alberta beef would be impacted significantly as well.

Mayor striking ‘working group’ to fight back

Calgary officials are still working on putting together a report to understand how possible tariffs and retaliatory measures will impact the city as a corporation.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek says officials would be “very concerned” if tariffs proceed on products like steel and other supplies used by the city.

“This isn’t just an issue that’s going to impact the corporation, the City of Calgary. This is going to impact every single Calgarian. It’s going to impact the business community,” Gondek said.

Members of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Economic Development will present to councillors later this month about the impacts any levies could have on the business community.

“I’m also creating a working group where they can come up with good ideas on how we can fight back against any potential tariffs should there be any that are put in,” the mayor said.