Calgary Chamber says trade negotiations ‘a tipping point’ in relationship with U.S.

ECONOMY Calgary Chamber says trade negotiations ‘a tipping point’ in relationship with U.S. By Ken MacGillivray & Skylar Peters Global News Posted August 18, 2026 8:07 pm Updated August 18, 2026 8:08 pm 2 min read Business owners in Alberta are bracing for a round of 50 per cent tariffs that includes a swath of products formerly exempt under the CUSMA agreement. As Skylar Peters reports, one startup founder says it's not just about the money today - it also affects the ideas of tomorrow. LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE As negotiations surrounding Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 50 per cent tariff on many Canadian imports tick down to the wire, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce said Alberta business owners are “very concerned” and “see this as an important signal on whether Canadian and U.S. trade is going to normalize or whether this is in fact going to continue to be the new normal.” View image in full screen The Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of policy and external affairs, Ruhee Ismail-Teja, says Alberta business owners are concerned the current state of trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. could be “the new normal.” Global News The Chamber’s vice president of policy and external affairs, Ruhee Ismail-Teja, said the “uncertainty in the trade relationship” over the past 18 months has forced many Canadians to adapt their businesses, attempting to focus more on internal trade (within Canada), finding new markets and new opportunities, adding the results of the current negotiations will “solidify” how they’re looking at the U.S. market over the long term. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT While Ismail-Teja said provincial and federal governments have done a lot of work over the last 18 months to make sure that Canadian businesses are in a better spot, there are still a “significant” number of businesses who are reliant on the U.S. as a key export market and expanding markets within Canada is “not as easy as we think it needs to be.” Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY MONEY NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. That, she said, along with things like…