British Columbia shipbuilding could mitigate U.S. tariff impacts

A report from the Centre of Future Work suggests that building ferries in British Columbia shipyards would strengthen the provincial and Canadian economies against potential U.S. tariffs.

The findings come from a coalition of industry leaders and unions seeking to promote domestic procurement. This follows a controversial decision by BC Ferries to contract China Merchants Weihai Shipyards to build four major vessels, a move the operator stated was at least $1 billion cheaper than other bids after no Canadian companies submitted proposals.

Labour economist Jim Stafford, a co-author of the report, noted that while the study does not aim to relitigate the previous Chinese contract, it highlights the need for investments in local facilities and labor to realize the economic potential of the domestic shipbuilding industry.