A former B.C. MLA didn香蕉视频直播檛 hold back when talking about U.S. President Donald Trump during a panel discussion on tariffs at UBC Okanagan (UBCO) on Wednesday (Mar. 5).

Barry Penner, who served as Attorney General, environment minister, and Aboriginal relations minister during four terms, said he believes Canada has taken the right approach in handling U.S. tariffs.

香蕉视频直播淭he man in the White House is obviously a bully,香蕉视频直播� Penner said. 香蕉视频直播淵eah, you香蕉视频直播檒l get some hits if you stand up to a bully 香蕉视频直播� but you香蕉视频直播檒l get more hits if you don香蕉视频直播檛. We want to try and find our way through this, and we will somehow.香蕉视频直播�

Penner, now chair of the Energy Futures Institute, was part of a six-member panel hosted by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. He made it clear that Canada didn香蕉视频直播檛 choose this trade battle but had no choice but to navigate it. He also criticized Trump香蕉视频直播檚 trade policies, arguing they aren香蕉视频直播檛 helping the U.S. or the Western world.

John Lambiris, VP of sales and procurement with Star Group (agriculture), said there has been a surprising benefit for his industry - the support of Canadian retailers.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have asked us to increase orders香蕉视频直播� they have asked us to source the world for options that are not American,香蕉视频直播� Lambiris said. 香蕉视频直播淭his feels real. It feels like we may have collectively woken up an opportunity that香蕉视频直播檚 been in our backyard for decades.香蕉视频直播�

However, he warned that once Canadian buyers move away from U.S. suppliers, it will be hard for those suppliers to regain their foothold in the market.

Grant Stevens, Chief Corporate Services Officer with KF Aerospace, said the uncertainty caused by tariffs will have a ripple effect on several industries, including airlines.

香蕉视频直播淎s we香蕉视频直播檝e seen before in times like COVID, and other economic issues, when we get into times of uncertainty, consumer sentiment gets scared, spending dries up, and companies suffer as a result.香蕉视频直播�

If tariffs stick around for the long haul, he warned that Canada香蕉视频直播檚 aviation manufacturing industry could struggle to compete globally.

香蕉视频直播淲e will be non-competitive even if the dollar continues to fall 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 a significant challenge.香蕉视频直播�

Heather Webber, a cross-border transactions specialist at MNP, said that while U.S. trade has always been Canada香蕉视频直播檚 easiest option, businesses now have a chance to look elsewhere.

香蕉视频直播淣ow there香蕉视频直播檚 an opportunity to sell across the country or acquire something from across the country香蕉视频直播� there might be a chance for us as a country to make ourselves more resilient,香蕉视频直播� she noted.

UBCO economics professor Ross Hickey pointed out that while tariffs affect the flow of goods and services, they also impact investment.

香蕉视频直播淎nd I think that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e leaving out of this discussion of tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, we香蕉视频直播檙e forgetting that the big issue is are we making ourselves attractive for investment.香蕉视频直播�

For Nick Arkle, CEO of Gorman Group, the trade war香蕉视频直播檚 biggest impact is on the company香蕉视频直播檚 employees.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e the ones, in the last couple of days, have come to me and said 香蕉视频直播檚hould we cancel summer holidays香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播榳ill we able to pay the mortgage on our houses.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he added. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 when you realize this is real.香蕉视频直播�

Arkle also challenged claims from American politicians that the U.S. doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need Canadian lumber.

香蕉视频直播淎bout 23 per cent of their needs come from Canada, and about half of that would come from B.C. That香蕉视频直播檚 significant.香蕉视频直播�

He also pointed out that for the 香蕉视频直播渋mmediate expansion香蕉视频直播� of commercial logging on U.S. federal lands, which could shake up the industry even further.

香蕉视频直播淚 think what we香蕉视频直播檙e going to see is one of these powers being stretched to open up national forests in the United States as well,香蕉视频直播� Arkle said.

On March 4, the federal government announced 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods. The first wave香蕉视频直播攈itting $30 billion worth of imports香蕉视频直播攖ook effect immediately. If U.S. tariffs remain in place, Canada will expand its countermeasures to the full $155 billion.