Statement from Premier Dixon on ensuring the Yukon and Canada have strong, growing and resilient economies

Premier Currie Dixon has issued the following statement:  

“Following weeks of negotiations for a new trade agreement between Canada and the United States, it was unfortunate to see the United States chose to proceed with new tariffs and to see negotiations break down.

“This decision and escalating economic conflict will harm families, workers and businesses across Canada and the United States. 

“The Yukon stands with Prime Minister Carney and with Canada. We support the decision to walk away from the negotiating table and to abandon any deal that threatens our sovereignty and harms Canada’s ability to freely negotiate trade agreements with other countries.  

“We must now prepare for a period of hardship for many Canadian families, workers and businesses. The tariffs imposed by the American administration and the justified retaliatory tariffs coming from Canada in response will harm both of our economies and make life more expensive for everyone on both sides of the border.

“As part of our Team Canada response to U.S. tariffs, our government will not be returning U.S. liquor products to store shelves across the Yukon.  

“While the impacts of tariffs may vary across jurisdictions, the Yukon recognizes continued economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions will negatively impact northern communities and businesses.

“In the face of growing economic threats to Canada, now more than ever we must reduce our reliance on a single market by building critical infrastructure, developing our natural resources and creating more opportunities to sell Canadian goods across the country and to the rest of the world.  

“The Yukon has vast natural resources. Developing these responsibly will create economic wealth for Yukoners and Canadians that cannot be impacted by other countries.  

“I strongly encourage Yukoners to support local and Canadian businesses and to carefully consider where they choose to spend their money. We want to see Yukon companies thrive, we want to see Yukon companies supported and we want to do everything we can to support a strong, resilient, national economy.”