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The Chamber is working with the City of Brantford and County of Brant Economic Development departments to develop local responses, stay tuned to this page and our Chamber e-news and social media channels for more information.

As these developments unfold, we are here to support you. The Chamber is committed to ensuring your concerns are heard and addressed at all levels of government. As noted over the past few weeks, we invite you to share your experiences with us—your insights are vital to shaping the advocacy that protects and supports your business.
Together, we will navigate these uncertainties and continue to champion the prosperity of our business community.

– The Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant

Businesses Call for Urgent Action on Expanded U.S. Tariffs at Ontario Chamber AGM

April 29, 2026 Posted in News & Media

As business leaders from across the province gathered for the 2026 Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) AGM and Convention under the theme “Ontario Connected: Business Without Barriers,” a clear message emerged: the recent expansion of U.S. Section 232 tariffs is putting jobs, investment, and integrated supply chains at risk in Ontario, and across the binational Great Lakes region.

“The expansion of U.S. Section 232 tariffs is creating immediate strain on Ontario’s integrated supply chains, particularly in advanced manufacturing and logistics hubs like Brantford-Brant. Businesses need predictability, and these measures risk undermining cross-border competitiveness at a time when economic stability is critical,” said David Prang, CEO, of the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant.

The recent expansion of U.S. duties to the entire value of steel, aluminum, copper and derivative products – not just the metal content – poses an immediate risk to 15,000 jobs in southwestern Ontario alone, and thousands more in manufacturing supply chains across the province and in U.S. states.

“After a year in which tariffs devastated manufacturing in both Canada and the U.S., this new measure throws another wrench in the engine of the North American economy,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “These tariffs are not well-understood, and that’s why Ontario businesses are sounding the alarm. Without swift relief, orders will vanish, investments will be shelved, and good jobs will be lost.”

For many businesses, the strain is already visible. Companies report absorbing sudden cost increases, losing long-standing U.S. customers, and delaying or cancelling expansion plans. Some are scaling back production or pausing hiring decisions.

“Businesses need two things from governments right now: relief and resolution,” Tisch added. “In the short term, that means reinstating remissions and providing targeted cash-flow support. But we also need a durable fix, one that’s negotiated between the two nations. If we get this wrong, we’re not just hurting Ontario, we’re undermining North America’s competitive edge.”

As Canada and the United States prepare for the upcoming CUSMA review, Ontario’s business community is united in its message: protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and remove barriers that put jobs and communities at risk.

Read More: https://occ.ca/mediareleases/businesses-call-for-urgent-action-on-expanded-u-s-tariffs-at-ontario-chamber-agm/

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is active on many fronts:

• Ontario government strategy: We are working closely with the Premier, his office and Ontario’s representatives in the U.S. to deepen American understanding of the enormous value of cross-border trade and the dire consequences of trade barriers to businesses, workers and communities on both sides of the border. We are also collaborating on the government’s strategy to defend Ontario, strengthen its economic competitiveness and demonstrate the benefits of a stronger North American economic alliance.

Building relationships and alignment: Before the U.S. election, we brought together the CEOs of the eight U.S. state chambers that border Ontario for a joint briefing on Canada-U.S. trade. Since then, these relationships have been valuable in gaining intelligence and forming a cross-border front against new trade barriers. While this will obviously not eliminate the tariff threat, it can help mitigate its scale, scope, impact and duration. In the longer-term, this can strengthen U.S. business support for a renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement in 2026.

In the days ahead, the Ontario Chamber will launch a new Ontario Business & Trade Leadership Coalition, comprised of the leaders of industries most affected by U.S. trade barriers, and most strategic in securing Ontario’s future trade advantage. Part “war room” and part think tank, this group will help strengthen the weight of our recommendations to government, and our counsel to our members. On the weekend, I spoke directly with the Premier about this, and he is eager to receive the group’s recommendations. We will also be engaging with the broader chamber network and our membership, to ensure we have an organized, united front ahead of anticipated economic impacts.

We have been active in influential media – including coverage in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Bloomberg, National Post and U.S. border-state media – in advocating a public policy agenda that advances sustainable growth. For example, we’ve called on leaders to dismantle interprovincial trade barriers; lower the cost of doing business; accelerate development of strategic industries such as mining; invest in infrastructure, talent and community health; and help businesses diversify their trade relationships. These and other ideas will drive our pre-budget submissions and Ontario Economic Report recommendations.

The Ontario Chamber has been a leader in developing and delivering programs to make small businesses more competitive – helping them with a range of challenges such as hiring talent or adopting technology. We are working hard to expand these offerings, including supporting them in developing new business and trade relationships. This is a longer-term effort, and we hope to have more to share later in the year. The Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant is part of the initial rollout of one of these initiatives.

We are proactively collaborating with the Economic Development teams of the City of Brantford and County of Brant to assess the potential repercussions of these tariffs on our local GDP and export activities. By comprehensively understanding these impacts, we can effectively advocate for our businesses at both the provincial and federal levels. This partnership ensures that Brantford-Brant’s unique economic landscape is represented in broader discussions.

Canada’s federal and provincial leaders have expressed a firm stance against the proposed U.S. tariffs, highlighting the intertwined nature of the U.S. and Canadian economies and the potential impact on consumers. Canada is preparing to implement retaliatory “tit-for-tat” tariffs on American products, including steel and orange juice, if necessary. This approach underscores Canada’s commitment to protecting its economic interests and supporting affected industries.