{"id":18181,"date":"2025-02-26T02:39:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T02:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/city-of-calgary-outlines-steps-in-preparation-for-u-s-imposed-tariffs-calgary\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T02:39:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T02:39:05","slug":"city-of-calgary-outlines-steps-in-preparation-for-u-s-imposed-tariffs-calgary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/city-of-calgary-outlines-steps-in-preparation-for-u-s-imposed-tariffs-calgary\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Calgary outlines steps in preparation for U.S.-imposed tariffs – Calgary"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In the wake of renewed tariff threats from the United States, Calgary city councillors were briefed Tuesday on the city\u2019s plans to mitigate the impacts.<\/p>\n

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Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs would be imposed on Canadian goods on March 4, after previous threats a 25 per cent levy would be slapped on all Canadian goods going stateside with a lower 10 per cent tariff on energy.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t have a crystal ball, we don\u2019t know if he\u2019s actually going to impose these,\u201d Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMany things can happen between now and March 4, so it\u2019s important to have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to the city\u2019s chief administrative officer, David Duckworth, approximately 95 per cent of the City of Calgary\u2019s contracts are with Canadian and non-American suppliers, while just five per cent are with U.S. suppliers.<\/p>\n

However, Duckworth noted the city is still adjusting its processes to further mitigate its \u201climited exposure\u201d to the tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe city has been examining the impacts of U.S. tariffs on a contract-by-contract basis,\u201d Duckworth told council.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin each project, we are identifying the level of U.S. dependency and will employ strategies to mitigate the impact of tariffs to those projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Duckworth pointed to the event centre project team proactively sourcing steel and aluminum from within Canada and Europe as price fluctuations and supply chain delays are anticipated.<\/p>\n

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City officials have developed a tariff estimator tool to determine impacts from various levy rates, and are monitoring foreign exchange risk due to the low Canadian dollar, Duckworth told council.<\/p>\n

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Other sourcing strategies include awarding contracts to multiple suppliers to limit supply chain impacts, exploring alternate logistic routes to avoid issues at the border, purchasing materials in advance and determining local alternatives when sourcing materials.<\/p>\n

Fees for companies to submit bids to the city will also be eliminated, Duckworth said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil, I want you to know my team and I are taking this situation extremely seriously,\u201d Duckworth said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re doing everything we can to reduce tariff impacts to ensure Calgary remains a vibrant hub for economic activity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, the uncertainty around the tariff situation is already taking hold for some Calgary businesses, Deborah Yedlin with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce told council.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re hearing from our members is that dollars are sitting on the sidelines,\u201d Yedlin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig companies and small companies are waiting to make investment decisions to carry forward, to commit capital, and investors are also standing on the sidelines because they\u2019re concerned the impact the tariffs will have.\u201d<\/p>\n