With the threat of tariffs and trade tensions looming over the continent, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce has decided to punch back and attempt to give local exporters a leg up in a competitive market.
The Chamber, in collaboration with the World Trade Centre Vancouver, is presenting an event entitled “Exploring Trade: A Joint Initiative with the World Trade Centre Vancouver to Open Doors Beyond B.C.”. It occurs at The Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre on Friday (June 20).
The event gives Fraser Valley businesses the opportunity to deepen their understanding of export markets and compliance with international trade agreements, with a special focus on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The session will feature local success stories and insights from industry experts, including Longboard Architectural Products, Export Navigator, Global Affairs Canada, and Miller Thomson LLP.
“The strength of Abbotsford’s economy shapes the economic health of our entire region,” stated Chamber CEO Alex Mitchell. “With volatility becoming the new certainty as we look at Canada-U.S. trade, it’s vital that our exporters are equipped with the right knowledge and resources to adapt. This event is about empowering our local businesses to compete and thrive in an evolving global marketplace.”
Recent investments from the provincial government have reinforced the importance of Abbotsford’s industrial sector. Earlier this year, Columbia Kitchen Cabinets received $1.1 million to expand operations, add four new product lines, and create 48 new jobs. These kinds of investments help position Abbotsford as a manufacturing and export hub, but the Chamber said they believe that more support and education are needed to protect against global trade instability.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce released a study that ranked the Abbotsford-Mission census metropolitan area as the most vulnerable area in B.C. to the 'Trump tariffs'. The study showed that 90.7 per cent of all exports from Abbotsford go to the U.S., which ranks the city 12th in the country. There are also 330 exporters to the U.S. located in Abbotsford. That number ranks Abbotsford 19th in the country. In B.C. it's only Vancouver and Victoria that have more exporters than Abbotsford.
The event is free to all chamber members and registration can be found at business.abbotsfordchamber.com/chamber-calendar/Details/exploring-trade-a-joint-initiative-with-the-world-trade-centre-vancouver-to-open-doors-beyond-bc-1379914.
