The "last thing" that British Columbia is considering is further economic integration with the United States, Premier David Eby said Wednesday, as Canadian premiers prepared for a White House meeting with President Donald Trump's advisers.
Instead, B.C. is "looking for other customers" for everything from aluminum to seafood, Eby said, speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C.
“Canada will never be the 51st state, but there's lots we can talk about in terms of working closely together on transnational organized crime, or whatever it is the president is interested in," Eby said.
"We don't have to fight and cause economic damage to each other.”
Trump has made comments about making Canada the 51st state and has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy, on top of 25 per cent tariffs on aluminum and steel announced on Monday.
Eby joined Canada's premiers in Washington this week as part of the Council of the Federation, which represents all provincial and territorial premiers and is chaired by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
The premiers were invited to the White House for a meeting with senior advisers to the president on Wednesday and cancelled all their other engagements for the afternoon.
Eby told reporters earlier Wednesday that "it's a puzzle" for British Columbians why the U.S. would, for example, place a tariff on aluminum that they cannot get elsewhere.
"We've had a series of really positive discussions with representatives, both Democrats and Republicans alike, and the common theme among all the meetings is that the elected representatives from all parties understand the importance of the relationship between the United States and Canada," Eby said.
The ongoing tariff threats come at "a cost of prosperity" to British Columbians, Canadians and Americans alike, he said.
"That's the message we're trying to deliver here," Eby said.
The continued threats of tariffs and uncertainty give British Columbia only one choice and that is to look to other customers, he said.
“We encourage the federal government, if we get hit, to hit back. But none of us wants to be in this fight," Eby said.
"We didn't ask for it, but we should definitely not shy away from it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2025.
Marcy Nicholson, The Canadian Press
