Statement by Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic on the Canada-U.S. Trade Conflict

Yesterday evening, during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic provided the following statement on the current Canada-US Trade Conflict:

Colleagues,

On Friday evening, just past midnight, Canadians learned that there was a breakdown in negotiations between our Canadian government with the current US Administration in the White House pertaining to the threat of tariffs previously announced by the US President.  As such Prime Minister Carney called back Canada’s negotiating team to Ottawa and communicated news of this to Canadians on Friday evening via a media statement and via a Press Conference on Saturday morning.  These were followed by a meeting with the Premiers and the Cabinet.

Since news of this first broke, Canada’s Premiers, national business organizations and leaders have rallied around the Prime Minister and our government. I would frame the messages heard over the last 72 plus hours around three main themes: 1. Canadian unity around protecting Canadian sovereignty, 2. protecting local jobs and businesses, and 3. using this moment to accelerate economic resilience and diversification. 

Sadly, our long-time neighbour, partner and ally made the choices they did in negotiations, but our Canadian negotiators stood firm and recognized that no deal is better than a bad deal.

Over the course of the weekend, I have been in touch with various provincial and federal officials, and also offered an initial statement via social media, thanking them all for their tireless efforts over many months, and especially in recent weeks on behalf of Canadians and I also extended our gratitude to them for standing together as one team, united for Canada.

The breakdown of Canada–U.S. trade negotiations and the imposition of the new tariffs mark a deeply concerning escalation in an economic conflict that neither country ultimately wins. As Canadians, I believe we must stay united: Canada must remain open to negotiations, but we cannot accept a deal that compromises our economic interests or sovereignty or we cannot go back to the table if there isn’t a meaningful rationale provided by our US partners in this regard.

For Kitchener, this is particularly challenging. Our local manufacturing economy is deeply connected to continental supply chains, and export markets. When tariffs disrupt those relationships, the consequences are felt by local employers, workers and families.

That is why this evening I am sharing that earlier today I have asked staff to resume the City of Kitchener’s Tariff and Trade Task Force that was originally started in 2025.

When this challenge first emerged at that time, our Task Force moved quickly. We strengthened Buy Canadian and Buy Local procurement, worked with suppliers to identify Canadian alternatives, engaged directly with trade-exposed businesses, supported import substitution, and launched our Support Local campaign with community and business partners.

Now we must go further.

I will ask the Task Force to examine additional opportunities to strengthen local and Canadian procurement; support affected businesses and workers; identify our most vulnerable industries for government advocacy; help companies diversify into new Canadian and international markets; and work with other governments and business organizations, including BestWR to advocate for meaningful assistance.

Kitchener has always been a community of makers, innovators and entrepreneurs. In this moment of uncertainty, it’s important that we all stand together — supporting local, buying Canadian, protecting jobs and building a stronger, more resilient economy for a stronger Kitchener and Waterloo region, a stronger Ontario and a stronger Canada.