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Tariff Tightrope: Ohio’s Balancing Act with Canada

Benhur Ayettey

What could the Trump Administration’s on-again, off-again tariffs mean for Central Ohio’s economy, especially for relations with the state’s largest international trading partner, Canada? Ohio-Canada trade was worth $39.7 billion just two years ago, including $21.8 billion in Ohio-made goods exported north and $17.9 billion imported from Canada to Ohio. Currently, the White House has imposed a 25% general tariff on goods entering the US from Canada, plus a 25% tariff on steel, aluminum, and autos. Canada has retaliated with a 25% tariff of its own on US-made autos. For Ohio’s manufacturers, tariffs may mean higher prices for key components, and for its farmers, higher prices for Canadian-made farm equipment and fertilizer. We’ll take a close look at Ohio’s relationship with its neighbor to the north and unpack what trade tensions and tariffs could mean for jobs, industries, and the economic outlook across Ohio.

Featuring Colin Bird, Consul General of Canada in Detroit; Allison Russo, Ohio State Representative, District 7, and House Minority Leader; Bala Sathyanarayanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Greif, and with moderator Dan Eaton, Reporter, Columbus Business First.