In light of ongoing announcements of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Surrey Board of Trade and the South Surrey-White Rock Chamber of Commerce are developing an action plan to protect businesses on a local level.
Jasroop Gosal, interim spokesperson and policy manager for the board (which is set to formally merge with the chamber later this year) was at White Rock city council Monday (Feb. 10) to review current progress.
Gosal told council that businesses throughout Surrey and White Rock are being surveyed to assess needs and vulnerabilities, with the announcement of U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from all nations – including Canada – indicating that the policy will be a continuing issue.
A motion from Coun. Christopher Trevelyan later in the evening, however – calling for White Rock to take a "leadership" role in fighting back against tariffs by creating a new economic development committee – had no takers, with all other council members ultimately voting against it.
Principal objections voiced by opponents of Trevelyan's motion were that it would be a costly step that would duplicate work already being undertaken by the Business Improvement Association (BIA), the board of trade and the chamber of commerce.
Gosal told council the organizations have a survey currently distributed to their members.
"We're asking for those that export to the United States, and businesses that import goods from the United States, to provide us with 'on the ground' context – information on what their businesses are going to be going through, what they're doing to plan for eventual tariffs or possible tariffs.
"We're going to be finding out who they do business with, whether that's (business to business) or with consumers down in the United States, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get some data so that we can meet these businesses, meet these consumers and find out what the impact of 25 per cent tariffs will look like at an affordability level.
"We're also trying to come up with solutions that that the federal provincial and municipal governments can provide – some sort of reprieve for the businesses that will be impacted by these tariffs."
Gosal said that, while before the supposition was that there would be a blanket 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, "now we are seeing it will likely be targeted to certain industries, certain commodities, starting with, now, steel and aluminum.
"When these tariffs come in place, yes, they have an impact on consumers in the United States, but they also have an impact on reduced goods consumption, and that has a direct impact on our businesses, our members here in Surrey and in White Rock.
"They may have to reduce production, they may have to cut jobs, they may have to rethink plans about expansion. We need to work together at all orders of government to make sure that we provide what is best for our business community, which is ultimately what is best for our residents as well."
Gosal added that local businesses and governments should be doing all they can to find new export avenues, new ways to support our business comunity, because "they will be struggling."
"If the business community struggles, that means our entire community starts to struggle."
Gosal said the board and the chamber have not set a specific end-date for the survey, "as this situation is evolving."
He said the board and chamber intend to share information with the province, once more data is collected.
Trevelyan, in making his motion, said that even without actions of the U.S. president, the Canadian economy is having to struggle with what the Bank of Canada has described as "a productivity crisis."
He said he'd like to see the city take a "leadership" role by bringing stakeholders – which might involve residents and businesses not involved with either the board or the chamber – together around a table to exchange ideas.
"I'd like to see the City of White Rock step up to do our little part – reach out to businesses, put a meaningful committee together, have all the players in the community get together and say 'what can we do to make this a business-friendly environment.' Bylaws that could be changed, red tape that could be cut ... (It would) really set up White Rock as a poster child for creating an environment in which businesses can flourish."
Coun. Michele Partridge said that, while she liked the idea, she could not support the motion.
She said that in a recent meeting with Indra Bhan, interim CEO and chief operating officer of the board, she and Coun. Elaine Cheung had learned that both the board and the chamber are already coordinating with the White Rock BIA on "addressing potential tariff impacts."
She also referenced the draft strategic plan that the city's former economic development strategic committee, of which she was a member, created in 2022.
"Many of the action items are already being implemented by council and the White Rock BIA," she said.
"We just don't have the necessary staff and resources to help us create this economic development committee."
