The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers have released the following statement regarding the imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods and energy:
IFPTE Says Trump Tariffs on Canada Will Do “great damage” to Canadian and American Working Families
Union also calls Trump’s 51st State declaration “highly insulting”
WASHINGTON, DC - International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) president, Matt Biggs, and secretary-treasurer, Gay Henson, issued the following joint statement in response to President Trump's decision today to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods to the United States:
"Last month when President Trump announced this nonsensical tariff proposal, IFPTE issued a strong and comprehensive statement of condemnation. At that time, we nonetheless held out some hope that the ‘adults in the room’ of this administration would impart upon the president how tariffs would not only start a trade war with our closest friend, Canada, but also the great damage this would inflict on Canadian and American working families. Sadly, and probably not surprisingly, this administration has moved forward with this reckless policy which will cause economic harm to workers and will lead to steep inflation on everyday goods that citizens on both sides of the border depend so heavily on.
“This administration has undertaken a tariff policy aimed more at punitive measures over a policy that is strategically targeted at increasing manufacturing and the good paying, Union-represented jobs that come along with them in both Canada and the United States. Sadly, the President has done so while continuing to insult the people of Canada with this ridiculous notion of becoming the 51st State. This notion is as highly insulting to the Canadian people as tariffs are destructive to our economies and workers.
“As a Union IFPTE will do everything in our power to urge Congress to use the power of the purse strings in blocking the President from continuing to impose these tariffs. In the meantime, IFPTE is proud to stand in Solidarity with our IFPTE Sisters and Brothers in Canada as we all fight together against the destructive policies being put forth by this administration.”
The Society is grateful for the support and efforts of our colleagues at the IFPTE on our behalf in the States. The IFPTE, which counts thousands of U.S. government workers among their membership, is under extreme pressure at home as the Trump Administration attacks their members’ jobs.
