Tariffs dominate discussion at chamber agm

Southwestern Ontario Businesses Need to Stand Together, While Promoting A Mindful Response to Us Tariffs, A Guest Speaker Told The Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce On Thursday.

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The Chamber Hosted Its Annual General Meeting at the John D. Bradley Convention Center, with Ryan Donally, President and Chief Executive of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce, Providing A Sobering Rundown of the possible impacts to Both Countries.

Hoping “Calle Heads prevail,” Donally alld the interconnectivity between Both economies, Particularly within the auto sector.

“This is not something we can just unwind,” he said in his opening address. “(The President) Can’t Just Snap His Fingers and All of A Sudden You Can Pick Up An Automotive Supply Chain from here in Chatham-Kent… and drop that Into Tennessee or Kentucky.”

Uncertainty is the most difficulty thing for which a business can plan, donally said, noting this is causing worldwide disruption.

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In Chatham-Kent Alone, Approximately 8,100 Jobs Depend On Us Demand, He Said.

“That is a very large percentage of our jobs,” he Said. “This is not going to be a happy conversation, unfortunately.”

Thursday’s meeting, which had the theme “Bracing for Impact,” also featured a Fireside Chat Between Donally and Rory Ring, President and Chief Executive for the Chatham-Kent Chamber.

Donally encouraged business to start!

However, he noted some American companies have a Canadian presence, with local Jobs.

Now is not the time to scale back on marketing, but rather spend those dollars wisely, donally said.

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Given the Proximity of Southwestern Ontario to the Border, He Said the World is watching.

“It’s mass confusion (in the US) there is no strategy, there is no plan, and if there is, it’s not being shared (with) anyone other than the very close circle of the Trump Administration,” Donally Said.

“Everyone in the globe is look at our region and how we handle this… we are the tip of the spear.”

Ring Hopes Decision-Makers In The Us Realize How Deep Their Relationshipship with Canada Goes.

Educating Everyday Americans On Main Street About the Impact also is Key.

“You cannot segregate our two economies without doing damage to booth Our families,” Ring Said.

While Us President Donald Trump Escalated His Tariff Threats On Thursday, a Senior White House Official Cautioned Canadians to Hold Off On Reacting To Auto Tariffs Because Relief Relief Could Be On The Way.

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Trump posted on social media that if “The European Union Works with Canada in Order to Do Economic Harm to the Usa, Large Scale Tariffs, Far Larger Than Currently Planned, will be placed on them both in order to protect the best friend that each of Those Two Countries has been had.”

Despite Trump’s Heated Comments, A Senior Ontario Government Source Not Authorized To Speak Publicly Said Us Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Called Premier Doug Ford Wednesday to Ensure Him There Would Be A “Significant Easing” of Automobile Tariffs on Vehicles Made Under the Rules of the Canada Agreement (CUSMA).

Trump’s comments Follow His Move Wednesday to impose 25 per hundred Tariffs on All Automobile Imports to the Us Starting Next Week.

The executive order also imposed tariffs on certain auto parts, included engine, transmissions and electrical components. The Move is likely to sweet confusion in the North American Automotive Sector, A Highly Integrated Continental Industry that sends vehicle across across Borders multiple Times Before Completion.

With Canadian Press Files

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