B.C. premier calls for blocking critical mineral exports to U.S. over lumber tariffs

British Columbia Premier David Eby arrives for a First Ministers meeting in Charlottetown, PEI Thursday July 23, 2026. Photo by TIM KROCHAK

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OTTAWA — B.C.’s premier argued Thursday for blocking the U.S. from accessing Canada’s critical mineral supply in response to tariffs on his province’s lumber exports and other sectors.

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B.C. Premier David Eby said at the first ministers meeting in Charlottetown that it was “inexplicable” for the U.S. to destabilize Canadian export industries, including forestry, while trying to gain greater access to Canada’s mineral wealth.

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“We can’t have a country, on one hand, attacking one group of families and workers, while hoping to have access to the resources in Canada that the rest of the world wants,” said Eby.

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He pointed to the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, regularly meeting with top Canadian mining executives and calling for co-operation while the White House continued to crank up economic pressure on other industries.

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Eby’s comments come after the Trump administration announced a new wave of 50 per cent tariffs on a range of targeted Canadian goods, starting Aug. 19. The White House said the tariffs were in response to Canadian trade actions, including provinces boycotting U.S. alcohol, Canadian tariffs on U.S. autos, and restrictions on dairy imports.

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Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Yukon Premier Currie Dixon, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and BC Premier David Eby, share al ight moment before a First Ministers meeting in Charlottetown, PEI Thursday July 23, 2026.TIM KROCHAK PHOTO

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The list of newly targeted goods includes several forestry products made in B.C., including wooden furniture and tableware.

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Analysts say the new tariffs are expected to hit Ontario, Quebec and B.C. the hardest, while leaving Alberta and Saskatchewan relatively unscathed. The latter two provinces have not been boycotting American alcohol. But Eby has said there’s “not a chance in hell” his province will put U.S. booze back on the shelf.

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According to one estimate, 13.7 per cent of B.C. exports will be affected by the tariff, the highest proportion of any province in Canada.

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Eby strongly suggested he was willing to leverage B.C.’s critical minerals as part of a national response to the newly announced tariffs. Several provinces have mines or projects for critical minerals, including B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

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“If the prime minister calls British Columbia and says he needs support with some big sticks to have conversations at the table, then we’ll be there,” said Eby.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrives for a meeting at a Charlottetown Hotel during Canada’s Premiers 2026 in Charlottetown, PEI Tuesday July 21, 2026. Photo by TIM KROCHAK

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Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy research at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said that threatening U.S. access to Canadian minerals would be a dangerous escalation of trade conflict, given the importance of minerals in high-tech applications, including defence. China is currently dominant in global critical mineral supplies.