Tariff threats : Mayor Marquis appeals for solidarity

Feb 28, 2025

Unless there's a last-minute change of heart, it's highly likely that, as of Tuesday, March 4, the President of the United States will impose a 25% tariff on virtually all Canadian products imported into his country, including softwood lumber, aluminum and steel, pulp and paper, food products and furniture.

New Brunswick ships 92% of its exports to the United States. If Trump carries out his threats, our region, which is heavily dependent on manufacturing, will be absolutely affected. We have to stop thinking that what happens south of the border has no effect here. It's clear that the next few days, weeks, months and possibly even years will be extremely difficult for the highly integrated trade between Canada and the United States.

But beyond the economic aspect, in a region like ours, straddling the border, family relationships and friendships are woven tightly. Actions that were once unthinkable, such as what we are currently seeing coming out of the White House, are now threatening this tranquillity, this constant collaboration and this feeling that the border was almost imaginary between Aroostook County in Maine and Madawaska in New Brunswick.

President Trump's actions, whether we like it or not, are designed to sow division in the US and, given our geographical proximity, here too. We must not, and frankly, we CANNOT, fall into this trap. There are too many short- and long-term risks.

Whatever our political allegiances, now is not the time to build walls between us. It's time to build bridges. This is the time to stand together and support our local, regional and Canadian businesses.

Looking for a beer? Visit our craft breweries. Fancy a good coffee? Try the local roaster. Ran out of laundry detergent? Look for the "Product of Canada" sign on your next shopping trip.

And very soon, thanks to the colossal efforts of the provinces, we should see interprovincial trade barriers come down, so we'll have access to more Canadian products. That's excellent news.

Canadians are a resilient, strong and proud people. Canada isn't perfect, but it's still one of the countries with the best quality of life in the world. It's OUR country. It embodies on the world stage compassion, a commitment to human values and a responsibility to the land and the community. It values respect, decency, diversity and human rights.

Let's not lose this reputation based on the divisive efforts of the White House, on their underhanded disinformation campaigns and, above all, check EVERYTHING you see on social networks. Let's continue to build bridges between us, as we just did between Edmundston and Madawaska.

I'll leave you with this quote from French journalist Salomé Saqué: "Democracy only dies if you let it die."