How P.E.I. is preparing as the Canada

How P.E.I. is preparing as the Canada-United States trade standoff escalates

'P.E.I. will be impacted more so than at any time during this trade dispute,' says premier

As Prime Minister Mark Carney announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion in U.S. goods, Premier Rob Lantz says the P.E.I. government is getting ready for anything.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff on many Canadian exports came into effect after trade talks between the two countries broke down.

Lantz said Canada "went to the table looking for a fair deal" but there are certain things that shouldn't be given away for the sake of an agreement.

"Unfortunately, this is where we are and it's going to be difficult," he said.

"P.E.I. will be impacted more so than at any time during this trade dispute."

What are the P.E.I. government’s plans to counteract Trump’s tariffs?

The premier said up to $10 million in provincial exports could be affected by the trade war, including refrigeration and cooling equipment.

Potatoes and lobsters — two of P.E.I.'s largest exports — are not currently affected because they fall under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA.

While it's not immediately known what the future may hold, Lantz said the province is "ready to respond."

"This is an issue that we're going to have to manage on a day-to-day basis. It could change on a daily basis. One tweet, one angry outburst south of the border and the whole landscape could change," he said.

"Let's be clear, P.E.I. will be impacted and we need unity. I've never seen Canadians so united. That is a strong advantage for this country that we've got so much cohesion, unity, determination to get through this and Prince Edward Island will do its part on Team Canada."

Charlottetown MP Sean Casey said the impact from the tariffs and counter-tariffs remains to be seen but that P.E.I. and the rest of Canada are "speaking with one voice."

"The prime minister has been a steady hand and that has been evident in how he's carried himself. That has been evident in the unity that has been demonstrated by the negotiating team," Casey said.

"I feel that public opinion is that Canadians have the prime minister's back and vice versa."

P.E.I. businesses wade through uncertainty as 50% United States tariffs come into effect

Ford doubles down on 'kiss my ass' comment to Trump amid Canada-U.S. trade war

The path to resolving the trade dispute is unclear, Casey said, adding Trump "thrives on chaos" and is hard to predict.

"We are in uncharted waters in terms of the actions that have been taken against Canada, but the government of Canada will be there with workers and with industry to help get us through it," he said.

"We've been in this since Donald Trump showed up more than a year ago, and the resolve of Canadians has not diminished one iota, so I am optimistic that Canadians are united in their resolve to continue to combat what is unjustifiable and unfair."

Lantz said details about resources and supports for Island businesses will be announced in the coming days.

He also called Buy Canadian campaigns "incredibly important" and encouraged retailers to "make it easy" for Islanders and Canadians to "make good choices right now."

"There is going to be pain all around here, but we've got to stick up for ourselves. Canadians are in a fighting mood. They expect us to work hard to resolve this, but not to roll over and play dead," Lantz said.

"It's going to be difficult, but as a government we are determining what the impacts are here, and we'll be there to support Islanders."

Lucas McInnis is a journalist at CBC Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at lucas.mcinnis@cbc.ca.

With files from Wayne Thibodeau and Khushy Vashisht