The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce is calling for continued unity between Canada and the United States, following the election of Donald Trump as the country's 47th president.
But, the organization admits it's too early to tell exactly how local businesses will be impacted.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carrie McEachran told Sarnia News Today that no matter who is president, there has to be a strong working relationship on both sides of the border.
Canada and the U.S. have an estimated $3.6 billion in daily trade, and 77 per cent of Canadian exports go stateside.
"They need us just as much as we need them," said McEachran. "I think it's too early to tell right now what this all means for Canada, Sarnia and any border town. The Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce really encourages all levels of government, specifically the Canadian government in this case, to start now. The next few days and the next few weeks are really critical, and they need to start building those relationships and planning. Leadership will be imperative on both sides of the border when it comes to these negotiations and policies."
McEachran is calling on Canada to resist tariffs and trade barriers that will raise prices and hurt businesses and consumers in both countries.
She said this will strengthen cross-border supply chains and enhance our shared economic security and success.
"The last time that Trump was in the White House there were some tariffs placed that were really impactful on Canadian business," she said. "There's definitely some concern there. That's why it's really, really important for the government here in Canada to start getting resources ready and building relationships. We want to work on avoiding those tariffs if we can."
McEachran said politicians on both sides of the border need to display effective leadership and be prepared to have those conversations.
"The chamber works with all politicians at all levels, no matter what party. We will be keeping a close eye on all of this," McEachran said. "We'll be making sure the Sarnia-Lambton business community is at the forefront of all of the discussions and planning."
Trump, the Republican candidate, won the election with 277 electoral votes, compared to Democrat Kamala Harris' 224.
President-elect Trump will be sworn in at his inauguration, scheduled for January 20, 2025.
He was the 45th U.S. president from 2017 to 2021 before losing to current President Joe Biden.