Hamilton mayor to attend tariff discussion in Washington, D.C. this week

Mayor Andrea Horwath will be heading to Washington, D.C. this week to advocate for Hamilton’s manufacturing sector as the U.S. plans to impose economywide tariffs on Canada Tuesday.

Horwath and other Canadian mayors are expected to meet with members of U.S. Congress and trade organizations from Tuesday to Friday to discuss the impact of tariffs on the economy and jobs.

“When you push that out in terms of the broader census metropolitan area, so surrounding communities, that’s close to 40,000 jobs. We’re talking a billion dollars in trade,” Horwath said in an interview with CHCH News.

She will be joined by representatives from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Big City Mayors’ Caucus’ newly struck tariff subcommittee to ensure Hamilton’s concerns are at the forefront of all organizing and advocacy efforts.

“Having these meetings jointly with representatives on both sides of the border I think is the goal, right, so that you can send the message that this isn’t just about Canadian cities or the Canadian economy. And having our counterparts, mayors from cities in the U.S., saying the exact same thing will have a greater impact,” Horwath said.

The mayors will also participate in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s annual Great Lakes Day. Their goal is to fight for the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin.

READ MORE: Economy-wide tariffs to hit Canada Tuesday, Trump says